Farwell Barn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Farwell Barn
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Horsebarn Hill Rd., Mansfield, Connecticut |
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| Area | 25 acres (10 ha) |
| Built | c. 1870, 1913-1915 |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001649 |
| Added to NRHP | January 26, 2001 |
The Farwell Barn, also known as Jacobson Barn, is a very old and important building. You can find it on Horsebarn Hill Road in Storrs, Connecticut. It sits right on the campus of the University of Connecticut. This barn was once part of a family farm. Later, it became a key part of the university.
The land around the barn also holds a secret. It's the spot where the Farwell House used to stand. Today, only its hidden foundations remain. The Farwell Barn was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. This means it's a special place worth protecting!
Contents
The Farwell Barn: A Historic Campus Building
The Jacobson Barn stands out at the northern end of the University of Connecticut campus. It's easy to spot at the corner of Horsebarn Hill Road and Connecticut Route 195. This barn is quite large, measuring about 62 feet long and 42 feet wide.
What Does the Barn Look Like?
The barn has a pointed roof, called a gabled roof. Its longest side faces east and west. Right in the middle of the roof, there's a small tower called a ventilating cupola. This helps air move through the barn. The outside of the barn is covered with wooden boards called clapboards. These boards were nailed over the original vertical wooden siding.
The main entrance to the barn is on its western side. A paved path leads from Horsebarn Hill Road to a stone ramp. This ramp goes up to a big sliding door. The door is made from tall, thin wooden boards that fit together. It even has a smaller door built right into it for people to walk through. The stone ramp is made of large granite slabs. These slabs also cover a secret underground storage area!
A Journey Through Time: The Barn's History
The Farwell Barn was built around 1870. At that time, a man named Isaac Farwell owned the farm. His family had been farming in this area since the 1700s. Isaac was mainly a dairy farmer, raising cows for milk.
After Isaac Farwell passed away, his son Isaac Jr. and Fidelia Farwell took over the farm. In 1908, they sold the property to George Jacobson. Just three years later, in 1911, Mr. Jacobson sold the barn and land to the Connecticut Agricultural College. This college later became the University of Connecticut. Between 1913 and 1915, the school added another building, a sheep barn, next to the original structure.
Digging Up the Past: The Farwell House Site
The Farwell House, which was once part of the farm, sadly burned down in 1976. Today, only its foundations remain. This makes it an archaeological site. This means it's a place where scientists can dig to learn about the past.
Archaeologists from the University of Connecticut have explored this site. They even have a program called "Kids Are Scientists Too" (KAST). Through this program, young scientists have helped dig at the site. They have found many interesting items, like old combs and coins! These finds help us understand what life was like for the Farwell family long ago.
