Barn StarHawley, Massachusetts
The Barn Star originated within the German farming community. These farmers would often mount a large star-shaped decoration onto their barns. Its significance varied. Some farmers considered the stars good luck, like a horseshoe hung above a doorway; while others viewed it as simply aesthetic and pleasing to the eye. Many Barn Stars, unique in their appearance, represented the trademark of the builder who constructed the barn.
The tradition of the Barn Star in America can be traced back to the 1700’s, and to at least the 1870’s in Pennsylvania. Barn Stars were most popular after the Civil War.
The Barn Star composition has changed over the years. At first they were built directly into the barn. Later the stars were crafted from wood as a separate piece. In the last 30 years, barn stars were constructed from roofing tiles, giving them a rough finish.
Recently, since the ‘90s, local craftsmen have been making them from thin steel, unfinished, so they rust. The present-day Barn Star, now popular on homes of every size and shape, has come to mean an outward sign of good luck and good fortune!
The above description was found on line.
16 comments:
Interesting history! When my daughter moved to Chicopee, MA from Arizona, one of the first things she noticed were barn stars. She has a metal one above her garage door.
Very beautiful and interesting!!
What a pretty barn! Nice reflections in the windows, too. Now you have me wondering about the history of the outhouse half-moon!
How interesting, Sunny. I've seen those stars on barns before--but didn't know the history...SO neat!!! Thanks for sharing.
We're home from a great vacation.. I'll post in the morning.
Hugs,
Betsy
Very interesting history, I have seen the stars but I never knew anything about them. Thank you for the information.
Have a wonderful day,
Judy
The stuff we learn by blogging is amazing. I had never heard of barnstars. Thanks for the history lesson. Nice pic too.
Hi Sunny
that was a good little history and general knowledge lesson, thank you...
The pentacle is also a symbol of light and spirituality and was painted on houses to ward off witches...
Happy days
Hi Sunny,
Thank you for the lesson on barn stars. I did not know anything about them. Fascinating!
I love your pictures and you barn photos.
Thanks for visiting my sight!
For a few years, barn stars sprouted like weeds around here and came in two colors, white or black, and people painted them and people hung them all over the house and outhouses too. They were so common that people said they were responsible for the decline in concrete geese on the front porches, those wearing bonnets and aprons. They are gone now. Thank goodness. What kind of mind dresses a concrete goose?
Thank you very much for visiting my Pick a Peck of Pixels blog and for the comment you left me there.
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Sunny, my Sister lives in Wisconsin and on my visits there I was amazed at the Barns there. Their size and the strength of construction. Some had been turned into Churches, motels, hotels. Some had several floors. Some barns were still used as barns. They were all beautiful and simply amazing. Thanks for sharing.
How interesting! I had never heard of barn stars. My gosh, there are so many interesting folks out there in the blogging world. :-)
I love the music on your blog, by the way...
Very interesting. Thanks for enlightening us. Learning new things are always exciting.
That is a beautiful barn! I love the rosy red of it. The star is beautiful like the Lone Star of Texas.
That is a beautiful little road!
You haven't been visiting me long enough to know this....I absolutely LOVE tree lined paths and roads.
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My husband recently built a new workshop/barn. He placed a weathervane cupola ontop, and then a beautiful copper barn star on the front.
The neighbors say they look out upon it every morning, glinting in the sunlight.
That's a lovely barn and star there! So rustic and welcoming.
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