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The Barns of Wake County

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The Romance and Mystery of the Past

Raleigh, North Carolina is a thriving cultural, educational center.

However, in eastern Wake County, starting in the outskirts of Raleigh and into Wendell, Zebulon, Knightdale and little Lizard Lick, among the sprouting new settlements with modest houses, townhouses, apartment complexes, trailer parks and McMansions, nestled into the country that is still there, are the barns.

I have admired these old buildings shacks, houses, barns, smoke houses and general stores for years. They have a tenacity that matches the people who worked so hard when these buildings were in their prime.

Recently, I began a project with a young girl who is about to turn 11. At first I thought that this would just be for fun. Then I became entranced with the native talent and photographer's eye that this girl has. I have told her that one day she will be identified by name, but for now she is MC to my MA.

We had a great time taking pictures, she taught me something about layering. And of course, one day I will be able to say, "I knew her when".

Contents at a Glance

Dilapidated Tobacco Barn @MA
Tobacco Row and the Research Triangle, N...
Dilapidated Tobacco Barn: A Dying Indust...
Inside Tobacco Barn @MC
Barn Raising: An American Communal Tradi...
The Amish Never Stopped Doing Barn Raisi...

Dilapidated Tobacco Barn @MA

Tobacco Row and the Research Triangle, North Carolina

40 years ago the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) was tobacco country. The two cities and one town where NCSU, Duke and UNC plus other universities and colleges were nestled in among hundreds of tobacco farms.

Although this industry has been replaced by pharmacueticals and technology, route 40 from NCSU to Duke and UNC and then on to Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, is still called 'Tobacco Row' by college basketball devotees.

It is still country out there, but a lot of the land is now used for housing the workers in the new industries. However, there are still tobacco barns, large and small, scattered throughout the area.

An interesting aside about the "Tobacco Road" moniker is that it is almost impossible to find a place to smoke in public in the triangle area. There are a few restaurants that allow smoking in the bar, an occasional gas station with signs that say 'smoker friendly', but small groups of employees hovering together outside the office for a cigarette that isn't allowed inside is very common.

Dilapidated Tobacco Barn: A Dying Industry @MA

Inside Tobacco Barn @MC

Barn Raising: An American Communal Tradition

This might be called socialism by some in America's current political climate, but in the 19th century barn raising was a common and communal practice. Everyone needed barns. They were too big of a project to do alone, thus the community would come together to build a barn for a neighbor who supplied the material. The men built, the women cooked, the littlest ones played.

Churches were also built in this manner, but unlike the barns that were put up quickly using wood and other materials that were vulnerable to nature, the churches were often built with stone and took much longer.

I don't know that any of these buildings were built as a result of a barn raising, but the decay you see here shows that they were made to be utilitarian for the time being. They aren't functional today, but they have survived in their own way and they do serve the purpose of history and art.

The Amish Never Stopped Doing Barn Raisings

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Broadwell's Close up

The Broadwell Compound

The Broadwells owned a lot of land in the area. The Hub was Broadwell's Grocery, above and below. These stores were common in the area. The Broadwells also had a working farm with the buildings below.

MC insisted that we introduce ourselves to the people in the house in order to be able to get closer pictures. We learned that the family still owns land, but doesn't live there any more.

Young Photographer Scouts Subject @MA

Shack with lean to @MC

Smoke House and Shack @MC

Young Photographer Casts a Long Shadow @ MC

Broadwell's Store, Ex- Hub of Activity @MC

Built in 1922, Still Going @MA

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Today's Working Barns @MA

There are still working farms in the area. Hopefully producing something other than tobacco while staving off suburban sprawl.

I had admired this farm for months. It demonstrates the care and pride that the abandoned barns had once had. The American flag roof is just just the topping on the cake!

Patriotic Barn @MA

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Lizard Lick, Eastern Wake County, N. C.

Lizard Lick, North Carolina is a small, unincorporated community located just off of US 64 in Wake County.

The community is approximately 20 miles east of the state capital of Raleigh. It is about 3 miles north of Wendell and 3 miles west of Zebulon. In reality, it is the crossroads of Lizard Lick Road and Highway 97.

In May 1997, the state installed the first traffic light in Lizard Lick. The town apparently got its name from a "passing observer who saw many lizards sunning and licking themselves on a rail fence."[1]

Lizard Lick has an unofficial population of 1,300.

Wikipedia

In The Woods in Lizard Lick, North Carolina @MA

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The Disappearing Barns in Iowa

Barns Disappearing from Iowa: This is a sad article that I got from Rufus. I love the barns of North Carolina. And even though I haven't been in Iowa for 40 years, but I am always an Iowan at heart. I mourn that they don't have theirs any more.

Mysteries in the Sun @MC

From the Car @MC

Equipment Left Behind @MC

Collapsing House @MC

The Old Red Barn @MC

The Farmer's House @MC

Don't Forget to Sign In!

I love to hear your feedback and of course, stars always welcome!

Reply

RetroMom Mar 24, 2011 @ 8:40 am | delete

These are fantastic pics Margo! I love the old gas station that is still running, that is very cool.

Reply

vallain Feb 13, 2011 @ 9:54 pm | delete

Some day, these photos will be all that is left of these old barns. Sad.
I've lensrolled it to my Save an Old Barn.

Reply

Momsbusy247 Jan 1, 2011 @ 8:35 pm | delete

There is something very cool about old barns. Congrats on the LOTD.

Reply

paperfacets Dec 21, 2010 @ 1:41 pm | delete

Love these photos!

Reply

Tipi Nov 28, 2010 @ 7:54 pm | delete

I love old barns, and these photos are just beautiful to me.
Congratulations on the LOTD! ~ Happy Holidays Margo!
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Well There Are Still Some Barn Raisings

Dedicated to Rufus Quail, Muse!

Check out this wonderful lens of his. One of the 'exhibits' is old barns. Well, there may not be any left where he is, but Wake County, North Carolina, just outside of Raleigh, are many. I had wanted to do this for a while, his lens encouraged me to follow through, just for him!

That's how Squidoo works. We just keep being making each other more creative.

My Salon, With More In and About Raleigh, North Carolina

The Camera That My Young Photographer Friend and I Used

Single Reflex Digital Cameras are the best of both worlds. You get the benefits of digital, but can take multiple pictures and exchange lenses. This one is solid, yet light weight and easy to use.