Our neighbor had an old barn that unfortunately was no longer worth keeping on her property. It was time to tear down the old barn but most of the wood would get repurposed and there were still a few relics left inside.
"and the beat goes on" Time seems to go exponentially faster as I've gotten older, Years go by like months, months seem like weeks. The pages just fly off the calendar.
I had Jimmy Rhin. He taught me everything I know about farming & ranching along with plumbing, construction, some electrical and a bit of everything. Cause of him, I can build just about anything including the house I live in now. He is the only one to this day that I tear up thinking about the time we had together.
Love that you made this video. Old memories (stories) need to be shared. The distance counter is simple 1 click equals the circumference of the wheel, no matter where the distance of the peg from the center.
Neil… it’s a shame! So many stories. So much history. So many memories. Old buildings are time capsules. So many of which are disappearing without their story being told. I know the stories behind several old buildings… but here’s one in particular. In 1980 I was taking photographs of farm scenes, sunsets and nature. Barn wood picture frames were all the rage… and clocks made that way were selling for big bucks. So, that launched me into starting a woodworking hobby. My brother had a lot of connections to farmers in the next county. He located an old barn that was falling down. He then procured permission for us to take the siding off and any other lumber that we wanted… before the farmer burnt it down. When we got there we found that most of the siding wasn’t usable. What wasn’t too termite infested was too bent from collapse. But, we salvaged a pickup load. Just before we headed out, I climbed into the loft. There I found a floor made entirely of 5/4 black walnut boards. Some were as wide as 20”! Now, not all of them were salvageable due to roof leaks and termites. But many were. We managed to get almost 900 board feet of it. We also found that some of the loft joists were walnut. And, salvaged a few of them. Plus, there was a white oak lintel over the man door that was engraved with the date 1872…. We pulled that down too. Yes, I made a number of picture frames and clocks with the siding. It was great practice and that is where I got my start in woodworking. But, the walnut… the first project was a quilt rack for my wife. She still has it. I have since built a complete bedroom suite for my daughter, a high chair for my oldest grand daughter, three children’s rockers for my grand children, a bed and chest for one grand child, a ship wheel for Cap’n Kleeman and countless gavels, desks, etc. Right now, I am using the last of it on the night stand that matches my grandson’s chest and bed. He is helping me make it. It may be the last time I have the privilege of making something with wood from trees that were growing during the American Revolution. Oh, and the dated lintel. I gave that to the farmer along with a barn wood framed black and white photo of the good side of his barn. The pride in his eyes, when he accepted my sincere thanks, was more reward than the wood itself. This is just one little bit of the lives that barn has touched… I hope my efforts have done justice to its legacy. Your story certainly paid fitting homage to one more grand old barn!
That is absolutely wonderful Dave! I wish I were more of a wood worker and I would have wanted to save more of that barn wood myself. I love the idea of crafting keepsakes from these time capsules. In just my lifetime, there have been 7 large barns that have come down in just the square mile "block" I live on. I would pay good money to have a frame picture of each hanging in my shop to 0.2 and talk about with my girls. They were all on my bicycle route as a kid and we loved to stop and explore them. Thanks for sharing your unique connection with one bygone barn. Have a great week!
Hi Neil. The person I think about who might be similar to Vernie is my dad. He grew up during the depression and they didn't have much of anything so you would build what you needed. He's been gone 5 years now but there are still lots of signs of him around. He lived with me for the last 10 years or so of his life. In New Jersey, he couldn't afford to live on his social security with taxes being so high, even though his house was paid off. There's hodge podge repairs and containers of bolts and nuts and miscellaneous stuff still left in my garage and shed. He was good man and I miss him. Thanks for sharing Vernie's story. -mike
Both my grandparents' barns are gone now, and one of them was similarly deconstructed, for the same reasons. A lot of childhood memories in those barns, climbing around (home-made ladder rungs coming off in your hand while you are 20 feet high inside, and you tap it back into place with your hand and tell yourself not to use that rung on the way back down - ahh, the carefree mind of a child), swinging on the rope and dropping onto the hay pile, going out at night with a pan of cat food and a flashlight with grandma to feed the barn cats that were seldom seen . . . too bad my kids won't have these memories.
I love this. It’s like a form of time travel and the older I get the more mindful I am of the clues to who I am that I’ll leave behind. Thanks Neil and God bless you and yours.
Your video reminded me of the barn my Dad had on our farm. The barn stored hay, kept equipment out of the weather and it was a place to milk the cows. I also pulled my car inside it to replace a clutch or fix the transmission. I still remember how that barn served us well for many years.
As sad as it is to see the old barns come down I’m glad people are repurposing the wood as a hobby wood worker one day I would love to build something out of old barn wood
First came to your channel for the pond dig and stayed because of your great content. I appreciate your nod to tradition, Neil, as well as showing us life in a small rural community. This video had everything; barn finds, your dad's recollections, digging a large hole and even a tire repair on a tractor! I live in a similar rural community, and our way of life seems to be getting more and more rare as time goes by. Thanks for showcasing a slice of your life.
My great grandparents bought our family farm in Michigan in 1926. My grandpa was born 1 year later in 1927. No one knew exactly when the barn was built but my grandpa always said "it was old even when I was a kid." We lost him earlier this month at 96. My grandma always joked that he loved that barn more than her. He's gone now, but we still have the barn and lots of memories of the man that took such good care of it.
Neil, I am amongst the many who discovered your channel when it popped up on my RU-vid “you might like this”. Well, I did like watching the pond videos. I liked it so much that I went time in time to watch most of your old videos. Your tell a good story, and your skill capturing, editing, and narrating your videos is outstanding. I am now a loyal follower. 😊
In my area, a lot of old barns had no foundations. Wood was plentiful, but concrete was hard to come by. Many were built on chucks of limestone or set right on top of the dirt. My grandpa used to jack the corners of his barns up every few years and toss more rocks under the posts to keep them from sinking. Without constant maintenance they just fall apart.
We see a lot of that too. This one had some really large rocks under the corners of the footer. The concrete busted up so easily you could hardly pick it up with the excavator and thumb.
Great video! Made me really happy and sad at the same time. Rip to Earnie he sounds like a cool cat. My Grandfather had the old barn on his property knocked down years before I was born. Yet my father still loves to talk about it to this day and passed down a weird love for barns and the meanings behind them. We still use the parlors foundation as a slab to keep things from rusting in the weeds. Also nothing beats an old pasture turned into a garden! I was lucky some old farmers were still filling their mows in he 21st century because it’s a kids play world in the mow. They’re all so similar yet so unique
I really appreciate it when you have “slice of life” videos that really capture the human side of the practical implements and buildings we all know and love. I absolutely love that the wood and many other pieces of the barn will be repurposed and live on. None of us are ever truly gone and this video is a shining example of that. Thank you Neil.
Good evening Neil. My Vernie story takes place here in Fremont, Indiana. In 2001, my girlfriend and I were 21 yrs old when we landed the grandest gift in this life besides our child. 20 acres from a farmer named Willis Smith. He was a sweet old man and hard working farmer who was born and raised on the land we now own. Willis passed away just a few yrs later after we purchased some farm ground from him. Willy was born and raised on this old farm that had a beautiful 40'x60' bank barn. I took some pictures of that old bank barn the day before it was to be torn down. So for the pass 22 yrs, that old barn was a staple and structure that's always reminded me of that sweet old man. Fortunately though, Ridenhour farms are going to repurpose all the old lumber and create a new office with the timbers. And for me, well its like a hole in the heart not seeing that old barn.....but like your Vernie measuring wheel, i was able to remove enough old faded chippy white barn siding to finish off the wall in my off grid kitchen cabin. So the sun still sets every evening on the Willis barn siding in our kitchen, that is now part of our family's history. Old barns, the storms they've weathered and the men that built them tugs at my heart strings, especially when they have to come down. Thank you for sharing this video and memory with us❤
Very lovely. I felt the same way cleaning out my grandpa's garage (he was an auto mechanic, starting way back when there were model T Fords). We were reminded so much of his character and talents just by going through his stuff.
Neil, so true about the barns surviving the homestead. Our family farm is in Hastings, MN and all that remains of the working dairy farm is the barn. It is in excellent condition. Dad put a metal roof on it to replace the cedar shingles. It was built shortly after WW2. My brother, who bought the homestead from the family, uses it for a storage unit.
Love the back story and history. I love talking with the older generation to hear how they did things back when. My grandfather was a tinker or builder he could make or build anything out of nothing. When he passed away my dad n I had to clean out his garage he had his own small engine shop where he mostly worked on lawnmowers but basically anything with a engine. I kno it’s not a barn n we didn’t tear down the garage but still made me sad to clean up n get rid of a lot of his things. His garage always looked cluttered or a mess but if u asked him for a certain part he could walk to a corner of the shop n find it in minutes. Thanks for sharing ur story with us Neil and can’t wait to hear more god bless
I know of one old barn that was saved.... My grandparents bought their farm in the 1930s, my Dad converted the barn into his house in the 1970s, and it's still in our family today.
The blizzard of 93, we lost our barn. Following spring, we were able to remove the top section, but years later, we ended up tearing the rest down. Barns are like the rural local history museums.
Yep, I am currently facing a similar situation with two old cabins on WA state that were built in the 50’s by my grandfather and his buddy. My retired mother lives in one at the place, we have kinda modernized what we can. But the other one was turned into my Dads shop when he purchased the other cabin. It doesn’t get used any longer but to store old tools and stuff that will probably never be used again. Kind of torn since it’s Dad’s stuff although he’s been gone 6 years now. He always said, it would be my problem to deal with HAHA! Contemplating doing a sale for all the stuff, donating the rest, ripping it to the foundation and setting up a modern ADU Boxabl type apartment in it’s place. A casita model with a full front glass door wall would fit perfect there overlooking the water views. Like you I am sure I will save a few treasures to remind myself and others of good days gone by. I appreciate you Neil for all you do.
I’m 52. Some of my fondest memories of my childhood are scavenging in my great, great grandfather’s barns on his chicken farms in northern Georgia. It’s where I conducted my own Ben Franklin experiment- electricity shocks you in your Willie when you pee on it!
Hi I’m a new subscriber and found you by accident as I love how people have DIY projects and I love people who believe in hard work. You are rich because you have the people who have given you the best foundation for life, love, hard work and passion. Looking forward to continue watching
I helped rebuild a foundation for an old barn and someone else scabbed replacement pieces for the bottom of the posts. It was still in good shape. I'm fascinated by the spans across that they got. That was open concept.👍 Great video Neil, God bless.
Great video. I so enjoy the realness of your videos. Loved the memories you shared and the history. Those are the ties that bind us to our families and friends. You are a blessed family to have such a rich heritage of love. Thank you!
Really enjoy your videos! I am the owner of a very old barn as well. The bank barn has been in my wife's family since the late 1800s along with our current farmhouse, it used to be a dairy barn, back to the days when the milk was taken to the creamery in cans everyday by horse and buggy. It tells the same stories that you showed, how things used to be, the innovation of the past and how things changed and were added. Its still decent and useful in many ways storing my tractors and things. I have considered taking it down for a more modern barn due to repairs and taxes but it will be a lot more work than the one in the video, so for now it lives on another day.
Listening to the young lady talking about the Walker family my ears perked up. Like most people I hate to see old barns and buildings come down but life moves on.
@@digdrivediy There might be a connection somewhere down the line. All I know is that we’ve been in Texas for four generations now but for some reason no one passed on the history before that.
My grandfather was the same way, he would make things even though he could of bought them in the store. He enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing he could do it. I remember him taking the toaster apart just to see how it worked. The man was a genius in his own way! Great video Neil!
One of my all time favorites Neil. I bought an Old Farm in Grant County Indiana 12 years ago. I still find stuff around here frequently that reminds me of the previous owners. I did not know them personally, but I did buy it from the family who built it and grew up here for a full generation. When I got the deed and abstract it had been in the same family since 1889.
Our town, in PA. turned 200 years old in 1964. As a kid, the alley ways and side streets had some beautiful carriage barns and full sized live stock barns. Over the years, some burned, some were torn down and yet others still stand. The last one I watched being torn down had 60 foot chestnut beams. 12 x 18 inches. Beautiful wood. Sad to see them go but glad they didn't sit and rot away. The 60 foot barn was rebuilt as a beautiful home, 20 miles from town. Thanks for your time and good luck with the new lawn!
Amazing Video! This definitely brought memories of my grandfather. The tinkering, the making of items that were needed and all the things he taught me growing up. That Generation will certainly be missed, because I know I do.
Up here in Massachusetts they buy reclaim barn beams from the county all the time . I’ve seen them used for fireplace mantles a lot . I Recently dug a foundation for a guy who had a semi trailer full of old beams from Maine that was a barn he’s rebuilding here on cape cod ! So new life!!
I can’t be the only one who thinks that it’s absolutely criminal to be paying taxes on a barn, especially ones that are not in use and ones that old. Look I get it, if it’s still in current use on a working farm by all means tax them. But if they are no long in use except for storage then there should not be taxes assessed on them as if they are in use. Don’t even get me started on insurance. Neil I want to thank you for sharing stories such as this one, the memories are all that’ll be left one day and thanks to videos like these those memories will last just a little bit longer. Stay safe!
My Grandfather was a farmer, much like you and your people. He had a fam down in Paducah, Kentucky, before WW2. He got a chance to sell that farm, and moved North, to Cleveland, Ohio. He took a job is a factory, a job that never challenged him like farming did. He found working 40 hours a week "amusing". He didn't go back to farming, but, as you can no doubt undersand, farming never really and truly left him. He passed away in 1985, and my dad inherited a house full of old tools, mason jars on nuts, bolts, cut nails, and all other manner of items that depression era farmers were sure they would one day need again. Of course, by dad, being the son of a farmer, and remembering farming all too well from his youth, knew and valued this stuff, but, living in suburbia, you just dont have much need for it. All that suff from my grandfather eventually passed on into my hands. I must have had about 10 or 12 electric motors, two sheds full of tools, dozens of mason jars with various and sundry items, a few very old squirel guns, old, hand made tools like Vernie's, including a table saw just like his, and so much other stuff. Sadly, the vast majority of it had to go. It's time had come and gone. My Grandfather, and my father, lived throogh the depression. They both knew and understood how to "Make do". I pray to God above I am never faced with that.
Absolutely great video Neil. Glad to see the old barn will live on in some fashion. A lot of work went into its creation, it’s proper to honor that. Looking forward to the teaser for the other barn you showed. 👍🏻
I Have a 150 yr old barn at my other property, I've spent the last 25 years fixing things to keep it up and water tight, im probably the last of my family to keep it standing, just can't replicate these old barns today to expensive. Sad to see your family's come down.
I had those emotions after NEEDING to remove my mother's piano we had bought for her in mother's day around 1980. After she passed away, no family members play piano. We couldn't give it away. I ended up taking it to the city landfill and push it off the truck, piano bench and all. It just didnt seem right, but nobody uses them anymore. Electric keyboards are it now. Thanks for this, and all your videos Neil.
What a nice, heartfelt video. Am I totally off base if I say I got the same vibe from this as when it comes down to the day you have to make the tough decision to say goodbye to a beloved family pet. It kills you inside, but you just know it's the right decision. Two thumbs way up. 👍👍
While I'm sad to see barns and out buildings come down, the treasures that can be found with in are amazing. From the purpose built implements to the wood that will have a chance at a new life I'm glad nothing was wasted. Thank you, Neil. See you next Sunday🥰🥰🤗🤗😘😘
Yep my neighbor Charlie Brown was that kinda man !!! On one evening I stopped in he several old model A switches tore apart making a good one to keep it original and filing a key to fit the tumblers . When I was a kid walking up the road from squirrel hunting or what ever in the evenings he would be working on a dozer and I would go in and check out what he was into, he would always take time to talk and give me some of his precious time ! I sure miss him!!!
In the last year we needed to clean out the family home mom and dad purchased in 56….I was one. 67 years of accumulated stuff in every closet corner and garage. Full of boxes of pictures, and stuff from my childhood. I’m still going through the boxes I salvaged and brought back home. 0:02 I didn’t know and dad never said that much about the army photos he had and memorabilia he brought back from Germany, 1951-2. I have an Omega watch he bought and have the receipt. Still works fine. I have so many pics of him wearing the watch. Thanks.
Building that comes to my mind was my Grandparents house. Lots of great memories there. But after my Grandfather died it just sat empty for WAY too long and fell into disrepair, until it had to come down unfortunately. I can see the same fate coming for his woodshop, as my Uncle who owns the property just won't sell it or have anything done to keep it up. In your case at least Veggies barn will live on in whatever or wherever the parts and pieces go. Those could go to save someone else's old barn.
Hammers, I am 78 years old, and how "Hammers" what kid could not find something to do with a hammer - so, after I lost Dad's hammer, what did he do with his new one, put it in his car where he would have it when he needed it. So, what can I do without one - I looked in the old trunk he had brought back (1950's) to NW Arkansas from Missouri (Tobacco country), from a visit at his dad's home. I Found an old "antique pipe wrench" it had a nice end that I used for my hammer. It's not lost, I have the rusty think and now it looks even older and the end I used for hammering is flatter and rounded "like an older hammer looks. So, it had come out of an old barn like stuff you found. Yes, your video brought back memories as I was around 9 or 10 yrs. old. Thanks, we do need good memories when we are older. Yes, the "hammer wrench" along with this message, will go to my older son for him to hammer with, no he's over 50, and maybe has a real hammer in his truck. Wow, how many times did I use the word hammer. (11) I think - I'm old...
I love hearing you talk about all the old timers that helped shape you into what you are. I really love hearing about Verny. He reminds me a lot of my wifes grandpa he was a tinkerer as well and retired farmer. He made everything himself. I also love when you feature your Dad and Father in law. Love hearing stories from the old boys
The silence left in the video the minute the barn fell was powerful enough to bring back emotions of loss of loved ones and memories and things considered family like an old barn, home or even a loved car.
Thanks for this video. I was lucky to be able to have some keepsakes from my grandparents farm. One was a beam from the barn that was built in the 1860's. When I counted back the growth rings on the tree that made the beam, the tree started life in the late 1600's. Beauty in the hand cut wood, and just my memories growing up and spending time in the barn as a kid. Sadly we couldn't keep more.
Neil great episode. Getting to go through old family barns is always a trip down memory lane. Keep up the great episodes. Love your upbeat positive attitude. Also I have taken on your challenge of just do one thing a day on a project. Been working on redoing my first minimize a 1977 ct70. Just yesterday I got it running and took a lap.
Neil, you punched me right in the feels!! Always sad to see those old barns go. Feels like our heritage slipping away. Glad to see some treasures saved and a beautiful barn getting a second shot at life.
Hmmmmm, Makes me think of what happens when I'm gone and what people are going to think about all of my small inventions that I have saved through my times. Great video Niel. See ya on the next video neighbor!
I'll tell ye a story about an old empty barn... There's nothing in it. * But seriously, it's nice that you keep Vernie's memory alive with a couple of his wonderfully whacky but clever inventions.
I'm new here to your channel and I absolutely love it. I'm 63 yr old female and I love the manly type things. I'm also an identical twin so I can related to your daughter's close relationship. I'd like more on your how you do your job and explanations of how and why you do what you do.
I spent a lot of time on my uncles farm when I was young and I loved every minute of it. With everything going on in the world now, I appreciate these videos and knowing that there are still people who look out for each other and just work hard. Thanks for making them.
Love the old barns, they’ve been around a lot longer than any of us ever will be. I come from a family of farmers, and all of their barns looked pretty much the same. They were full of stuff that many people would consider junk, but they came from an era where you didn’t throw anything away. They might need a part or a piece of steel to repair a machine or implement, and you could afford to hire someone to do it, you had to be self sufficient. And as disorganized as it might look to the rest of us, they knew right where everything was. Stay safe and have a great day…
As someone who had an old barn and the knowledge to fix it but still opted to tear part of it down, most don't understand the money and equipment you need to work on these. They don't make 10x10 beams 20+ feet anymore without having to go with engineered beams which loose the look. Play alot of these barns, mine atleast, a 40ft ladder didn't reach the peak so you really need a man lift to work on them safely and most are probably never gonna use the top 30 ft of the barn, huge barn and the bottom 6-8 ft get used. And I remember as a kid every summer and fall that barn being so full with hay I could climb up to the rafters on hay bales. And these were all built with no architect, no engineer, not much for equipment other than maybe an old tractor or horses. My barn was 1890 so, a lot of man power and sweat
This hits close to home...we have two old-fashioned barns in Steuben County that date back to around 1900. They are currently filled with even more stuff( and animal feces) than what you showed. Fun to walk through them and see a bygone era. They are slowly crumbling away, and it doesn't appear like they will be saved. Sad is right.
Hi Neil. I can relate. My friends have had several farms they bought over the years and some of the barns had to be knocked down. It is amazing to see and find all of the history in them. Keep up the great work on your Chanel.
Another great story. In my life on the family land, our family 4-generation barn had to come down. I wish we had a great video like this about its story.
Hey there Neil, Greetings from Australia Another awesome job of storytelling from yourself, like you I feel it’s a shame that these old structures are slowly disappearing. Unfortunately it’s the same in my part of the world. They may be gone, but the memories will always live on Well done 👍🏻
Nice video Neil! Always enjoy videos like these. We too had a neighbor across the field who was the "master tinkerer" and was a close family friend. He sounds a lot like Vernie. Lots of good memories over the years. I also took down two family homestead barns a few years ago, as hard as it was (sentimental challenges) I am glad I did.
Not all that long ago barn wood seemed to be worth more than new. Apparently, it still is if you have a market. You mentioned this was going to Texas which is a long way from Indiana. Times certainly have changed as all of that wood must be worth more now than when the barn was built. That seems to happen with a lot of things these days. The parts are worth more than the sum. Thanks for another Sunday morning episode.
I have roofed many old barns and sheds and its the one with good shingles or tin with nooooo leaks that last the longest. I love checking out old building because you can see what idea worked for many many years and what didn't work
