Our Barn

We believe the current barn was built sometime around 1850, possibly replacing a previous barn. The Marsh family, descendants of the original farm's owners, were living on the farm when this barn was constructed. Peter Marsh, who resided on the farm from about 1850 was likely responsible for the barn's construction though it may have been built earlier. Interestingly, one of the walls in the barn carries Peter Marsh's signature written in chalk.

Quiet Valley's barn is a very typical Pennsylvania Barn form (Closed Forebay) found throughout those areas of Pennsylvania settled predominantly by those of German descent. Additions were made to the barn after its original construction which deepend the forebay and provided more storage on the main level of the barn.

The “Pennsylvania Barn” is a familiar symbol of rural Pennsylvania. This barn is a well-designed, multipurpose storage facility and workspace, which for generations was at the heart of the farm. Although it had antecedents that reached back to the Swiss Pratigau region from which many Pennsylvania German immigrants hailed, the Pennsylvania Barn is a uniquely home-grown creation, and a marvel of functional engineering. The most prominent among its distinguishing features is the projecting “forebay,” or “overshoot,” which projects over the lower-level doors. The barn was always placed with one long side built into a bank so that wagons on the bankside could enter the upper floors laden with hay, straw, or grain. The upper story was divided into mows (places where hay and grain are stored), threshing floors, and sometimes a granary. From there, workers taking advantage of gravity-power could toss feed, hay, and straw down through holes to stables on the lower floor where cattle, horses, and sheep could stay warm. To permit the circulation of fresh air and confine animal manure for efficient collection, the forebay side usually faced south and opened onto a walled yard.

Like other buildings on the farm the barn's foundation, which makes up the walls of the barn's lower level, is made from locally harvested limestone. The lower level of the barn consists of stalls and mangers for livestock, and feeding alleys. The upper level of the barn consists of a central threshing floor, machinary storage and a granary.

Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm is committed to the preservation of all of our historic structures. We will soon be applying for a Keystone Preservation Grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission that, if approved, will permit us to undertake a study of the history of Quiet Valley's Barn and a determination of the structure's condition and preservation needs. Check back with us as we update this page with further information as preservation efforts continue.