A barn in transition
November 20, 2007
The old barn came down in the night, kneeling to the future.
Viewed from the south it now offers the wry appearance of the ship that brought its builders to Canada circa 1850.
One of the barn's inhabitants, probably a raccoon, exited in a hurry, leaving his belly-track in the snow.
Jim, I'm intrigued by the foot-powered lathe. I first saw one of those when I was in Grade Six at the Ontario Science Center. I was so fascinated by it that I spent most of the field trip pumping away on that baby, and I've wanted one ever since! For some reason I still haven't taken the leap to buying a lathe, but I'm stoking the urge by taking a pen-turning course at Lee Valley later this month. Sure a Taig mini-lathe lacks the romance of an old-fashioned foot-driven unit, but you've got to start somewhere, right?
Mag
Posted by: Mag | November 22, 2007 at 08:21 PM
157 years old? Dang thats really old!
Posted by: Abi | November 22, 2007 at 05:44 PM
We have an uncle and his wife who live across the lake on the family homestead, built in 1846. Its in better shape than many homes built today with all the charm of a home its age. Don't matter how old something is, give it a bit of TLC and fix it when it need a fixin'...it'll last a way long time.
I have the shaving horse that made the shingles for the house when it was built. Its just as it was back in the mid 19th century. Sturdy, strong and still in working order.
And the foot-powered lathe is still in the barn and it too still works.
Woodwork Safely,
Jim Barry
Posted by: Jim Barry | November 22, 2007 at 10:18 AM