Feeling Sentimental about Barns, Sheds and Outbuildings...
When I was younger, the farm kids that I grew up with always had interesting little shacks and sheds made from old discarded wood and these were usually situated in the oddest locations on their property. Great for playing hide and go seek, these were generally used for storage for farm equipment or old items that had once served a purpose and were set aside until someone found use for them again. Sadly, these things were generally forgotten and often ruined by the elements and time.
When we moved to our home in the fall of 2009, a double car garage was attached to the main house by a breezeway. About 30' behind that was the original garage or work shop that had been there probably since the 50's or 60's. The floor was just a dirt floor and over the years, piles of large pieces of plywood had been laid on top to create a dry floor. It's not a huge building. It could probably house two cars in tandem, but for us, half of it is used for pool equipment and the other half for lawn tractors, wheel barrows and so much stuff that our family has accumulated over the years.
The first time we walked into the back garage, my kids immediately complained about the smell and plugged their noses. For me, the smell took me on a bit of a journey down memory lane. When I was very little, my parents had an ancient ramshackle barn that was about a century old. I was probably two or three when they tore it down. Although I only have the smallest recollection of this building, I remember the smell distinctly. Oil soaked into old, sometimes decaying wood. Hay and feed for livestock and poultry. Old machinery. Dust and years of grime that had accumulated. These things hold a distinct smell and tell a story of people and things from a by-gone era
That's how I feel about our back garage. When the sun heats up the interior and it hasn't been opened up for a while, the smell of old is almost assaulting. But it plummets me right into memories of a childhood not that long ago and reminds me that hopefully, one day, my kids will be able to have a similar experience where they can associate something that brings back happy memories for them.
It never crossed our minds to tear down this outbuilding, but we did improve it. In 2014, when we had major exterior work done to our little farmhouse, we also had this garage sided, a new roof put on, as well as eavestroughs, fascias and soffits installed. The old manual garage door was taken away and picturesque windows were put in instead. Functional double doors at the back were installed so that ATV's and the lawn tractor could be pulled in and out without issue. But the interior remained much the same. I've played with the idea of throwing down an area rug in the one half and putting old couches and chairs in it for the kids to have some space for themselves. It would make a great garden cottage to rent out one day if we ever needed to or felt inclined to go that direction. But for now, it just serves a purpose of being useful.
People moving to the area generally tear down anything that's not functional or looks unsightly. I hope that others can also take the approach to salvage and restore, if possible. Some of these buildings have been around longer than us. They tell a story of a simpler lifetime, of people who didn't necessarily have as much as we do today and for whom these buildings served a distinct purpose. It makes me sad to drive down the lines and concessions and see some of the crumbling remains located at the edges of fields and vineyards.
Perhaps I'm feeling sentimental today, realizing that this summer is approaching a swift end. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that what is important is the past, the present and the future to come. But for now, since the sun is shining, I think I'll step outside and into the dim interior of that little back garage and admire the stained beams and some rusty old tools left behind from generations before me. I'll look at the antique wall sconce placed on a shelf that I had intended to get refurbished and display in an appropriate place once I knew where that was. And the old birdhouse that a previous owner had once handcrafted that needs a little TLC before it gets placed on the post by the willow again. This garage isn't all that old but there's a kinship there that I hope the next generation will be able to relate to. Right now, I'll just stand and watch the dust dance in the sunrays coming through the window and enjoy this moment of tranquility.
Lolita Schimann Hale
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