Granary – inside view

 

A building as important as the barn on most of the old Monroe County farms was the drive-through granary.  The granary was used for storing grain and tobacco.  The above photo shows the corncrib as viewed from the drive-through of the granary.  The bed of a loaded wagon would come to about midway between the open door at the top of the crib and the ground or dirt drive-through.  Eared corn would be shoveled through the top door into the crib using a 10-pronged pitchfork or a scoop-shovel. 

 

A few ears of corn would be removed at one time as feed for livestock and chickens.  The small box-like opening at the bottom of the picture was for removing corn.  Ears of corn from inside the corncrib would fall into this box as corn was removed.

 

As you might expect, the granary was a favorite place for rodents and birds.  Rat poison was frequently used to control the rodent population.  Birds were unwelcome guests but one of the costs of doing business on the farm.

 

Photo taken July 2005

 

Provided by Dorothy Bayes

 

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