The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-12-31
FARM BUILDINGS !
MADE BEAUTIFUL
A New and Picturesque Type
Is Appearing,
RURAL SCENES IN NOnNhKBY

Decorative Possibilities of Country
Homes and the Adiuncts About Them
Have Come to Ee Realized Only
Within the Past Few Years.
1t is only during the past few years
that the architects and owners of coun.
try homes have become aware of the
decorative possibilities of farm and
service buildings OF every kind.
Structures devoted to the many nth
itarian purposes upon farms and conn
try estates have long been regarded al
evils which must be tolerated becaus,
they are necessary This theory ha3
led to their being hidden as far ~
possible when it has not been prac
ticable TO Danish them wholly to some
distant part of the estate where theic
ugliness could not interfere with the
smart appearance which it was de-
sired that tue estate should assume.
The mistake has consisted in not real
izing or approaching the opportunities
which the buildings themselves have
held out.
Any one who has motored through
Normandy or through many OF the
rural sections of northern France viii
no doubt remember the picturesque
ness of the old farnhouses and thei.
surrounding buildings. which are mucI
larger than the houses themselves.
The highways in many places arj
bordered with rows of tall poplars
and the old stone farmhOuSes are sur
rounded by barns. low. rambling
structures. also of stone, with pr-
turesque sweeping roofs The stone N
their walls and the coverings OF tbs
roofs have weathered TO gray whicr
IS thrown into relief against the greer
cry OF surrounding fields or pastures.
Each group seems to express n ce--
tain sense of the fitness OF things. ~
it may be that the habit OF giving ar-
tis;ic expression to the most prosaic
Of utilities. which is inherent in the
French character, has produced what
seems to Americans the most pictur-
csuue OF settings. for very diilcrer.
are the gaunt and bare buildings.
which generally serve the same pur-
poses upon farms in America.
Or. TO take an example nearer home.
there are old barns in certain dis
trlcts settled by those sturdy colo
nists. the early Pennsylvania Dutch
barns built of stone and possessed of
a rugged quaintness which is partic,l-
larry interesting. These and many
similar object Lessons have led recently
TO the adoption OF wholly changed
attitude upon the part of Americans
toward such buildings as stables. COW
barns. garages or buildings called hy
any other name which may toe neces'
sary upon farm or country estate.
The very size and bulk Of these
buildings often make possible a treat
meut which Is bold and striking. for
they may be built after architectural
types which depend for their effect
not so much upon minute and eS-
quisitcly designed detail MS upon the
effective use Of great wall surfaces.
frequently without windows agd top
ped 10y broad and sweeping roufS IN.
broken 10y dormers.
The skilful placing Of these has much
TO do with the effect which they pro
duce The scattering OF buildings about
IN estate could never result In any
thing but an appearance of disorder.
confusion ana lack Of unity. always to
he avoided if beauty is 10 be regarded.
American country homes are 10
longer being hunt with back yards
ANA rear premises" They have been
discarded along with tie wax flowers
and crocheted tides which were once
considered ornaments to the home.
The country house now presents an
entrance 'front.' to tina road or the
driveway, and garden front faces
an opposite direction. With the service
entrance and drying yard suitably
screened In like manner the other de-
tails Of residence and farm buildings
which were once undigaifed and often
unsighuy are clothed with certain
grace and dignity of thelr own. 50 tha,
now there Is no part OF the estate
which may not he considered rs habit
ually arraycd in correct attire.