Dear Mr. Martinson,
Sorry about this late reply concerning the Scandinavian barn you believe might be Finnish, but I have been away from my e-mail while traveling.
Your e-mail is of interest to me because I did my dissertation on Finnish farmsteads in Michigan?s Upper Peninsula, popularly known as the UP. I documented about 100 Finnish farmsteads in the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula of Lake Superior and never found a barn as you describe. Even though the pioneer Finns and their offspring were masterful and inventive wood workers, a barn that looked like an inverted ship was not part of the repertoire of design at least among the sites I visited.
I also know that Finns from the Upper Midwest?Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas?migrated to the West and to Idaho often to take mining jobs. It would seem more probable that in Idaho they would have continued the building traditions they practiced in the ?Old Country,? that is, in the Midwest. Another responder suggested a Norwegian origin for the barn, which is probably closer to the truth. But, who knows. America is, after all, home of the Mexicana Tofu Croissant.
I would love to see photos of the barn. Do you have both exterior and interior shots?
Very truly yours,
Rich Vidutis
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From: John Martinson <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon Jun 27 08:30:16 CDT 2005
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Scandinavian Barn
We're looking for information on Scandinavian Barns. This is a huge barn, with a rounded roof (tiles on the
roof are new) but old structure. Inside looks like you are in a ship upside down. Nice woodwork, hand made stairs going up to loft. Exterior has upright vertical timbers. I have a picture if you need
to see the barn. We believe it is Finnish, but may be mistaken.
Thanks in advance!
John Martinson SRA-6117
Museum Specialist
Bureau of Reclamation
Snake River Area Office
230 Collins Road
Boise, ID 83702-4520
Telephone: (208) 383-2287
Web: www.usbr.gov
RECLAMATION
Managing Water in the West
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