Summer

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Several years ago, my daughter gave me a book titled “Life in The Slow Lane - Fifty Backroad Tours of Ohio.” Tour #18 - “The Barn and Field Tour” was through Miami and Darke Counties in southwestern Ohio. I never paid much attention prior to the trip that there were different types of barns. Here are some of the barns I’ve seen in Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Maryland. First is the bank barn named after the “banking” on one side. Bank and rectangular barns are the most common barns. Octagonal barns are not very common and only about a dozen exist in southwestern Ohio. This barn was built in 1890 and was an addition to a rectangular barn. This octagonal barn, located in Vermont, was transformed into an art studio. The round barn is not common anymore and they number less than octagonal barns in Ohio. This barn was built in the early 1900s. Another round barn, transformed into an equipment store, is on US 50 in southeastern Indiana. This 1890 bank barn has an unusual roof, giving it a unique appearance. In southern New York, this dairy farm barn was immaculate as viewed from the road and appeared to have started out as a rectangular barn and then many extensions were added giving it its vast appearance. In Maryland, along I-68 and west of exit 14, I’ve photographed this one barn during two seasons. Here, in autumn, the hay has been stored and provides a picturesque view in the Maryland countryside. During winter, the barn retains its appeal with a mantel of snow around it. Along I-70/76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, this dairy barn advertises its product - Drink Milk. Some of the herd that “provides” the milk along the PA Turnpike. Tucked away in southern Indiana is this barn that has a unique personality. It has an attached silo and the grounds are well cared for. The animals associated with the barn are not ordinary cattle. These are the cattle that use the previous Indiana barn. On the Gettysburg Battlefields are several farm houses and barns. This rectangular barn had its own personality and appeal. This is another rectangular barn on the Gettysburg Battlefield. A third barn, not seen herein, existed back during the Battle of Gettysburg and still has a hole in the wall where a cannonball penetrated a side. In Lancaster County, PA, the surrounding area has many Amish and Mennonite farms. This country road, east of Lancaster, PA, has several Amish and Mennonite farms on both sides. The Amish/Mennonite buggies can be seen everyday traversing the area. An Iowa farm with corn fields in the foreground. Now for a change of pace, traveling around America there are many sights which are of times past or reflect moods of the times. Route 66 goes through Albuquerque, NM on its way from Chicago to Los Angeles. A throwback, the Aztec Motel on East Central retains the aura of the old Route 66 days. This and the next picture give you a taste of the era. View of the second floor area fronting the Aztec Motel on Route 66 in Albuquerque, NM Along the byways of the USA, another site is the Caboose Motel, where rooms are individual train cabooses made into motel rooms. We didn’t stay there but the idea was tempting. This motel is on the same road as in the Amish/Mennonite farm road above, east of Lancaster, PA. The remaining photos are of various art works along the roads and streets of some cities. In New Orleans, LA a couple of years ago, there was a craze painting fish sculptures and reflecting the local “color.” Here is the “Olympia Brass Band” fish. Near the Harrah Casino in New Orleans, LA, three fish sculptures had very artful coatings applied. There was another one just down the street which had playing card aces as the artwork. In Troy, OH, several sculptures line the streets. I counted at least a dozen and the following two photos provide a sample of the quality of the artwork. These two children are about four feet high and reflected a summer pastime - eating ice-cream. This gentleman is enjoying the afternoon sun and checking over some paper work. Last, but not least, this artwork is on US 2, near the intersection with I-75, on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It seems to be a patriotic statement for “Northern Exposure” or “Bullwinkle Goes To Washington.”