In our family we have what we call Juanita Barns. These are old barns that are weathered, sun cooked, and normally leaning if not partially fallen. They are called this because my grandma Juanita loved to paint and take pictures of them.

Sunday driving back from San Antonio we were on the last stretch from Glen Rose to Cleburne when we passed this old barn I’d seen a thousand times.
In north Texas most barns are all wood. This one was all rock on the front and back with a half rock/half wood on the sides. The roof was tin, but curved with an arch that ran the length. Not pointed like most you would see. The style of stone work is very common in the hill country and can be traced back to Bavaria Germany but it’s the only one I’ve seen in this part of the state. The curved roof made it look more like a WWI aircraft hangar. I could easily picture old biplanes sitting out on the grassy field beside it.

I’ve always wanted to stop and take pictures of it because it’s so unique but never taken the time. After 4 hours of a 5 hour trip you get tunnel vision and all you think about is getting home. That was the case this past Sunday, I had the whole family with me and everyone was tired. As we passed I looked up to see that it had collapsed. One of the recent wind storms was too much for the old wood beams supporting the curved roof.

Disappointed that it had fallen but, I got to thinking that it had lasted longer than any other barns it’s age. I have to wonder why the builder chose that design. Why he mixed features others hadn’t. why when his design stood for decades longer than his contemporaries no one else copied his work.

Now rather than missing the barn, I can’t help but think how much I would have like to have met the man that built it.