Wheel Barn

July 09, 2014  •  9 Comments

Some history about the barn and wheel fence first:

 

Frank Wolf, whose family still farms in Uniontown, built the barn in 1935 for Jack Dahmen and his family who used it for a commercial dairy operation until 1953 when it was purchased by his nephew Steve Dahmen and wife Junette. 

Nikon D800: Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8: ISO 200: 1/100 @ f/11.0

 

Both Steve and Junette had an interest in fine art for years. Junette has been working as an artist since the early 1980s, and Steve has made a public display of his artistic skills by building the surrounding wheel fence over a 30 year period. It all started with his building a gate of rake tines, and after friends began contributing wheels, the fence quickly grew. Says Junette Dahmen in a history of the wheel fence, "Every wheel has a story from the smallest to the biggest. There are wheels from every kind of machine, an antique baby buggy, threshing machines, push-binder wheels, sidewinder or delivery rakes, old hay rakes and gears of every kind, large and small." Today the fence exhibits over 1000 wheels. Steve also designed the antique weather vane and installed it on the barn roof in 1990, and fashioned some metal "greeters" - a farmer holding a pitchfork and nippers, and a wire-eared dog you meet as you approach the entrance to the barn.

Nikon D800: Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8: ISO 200: 1/25 @ f/22.0

 

I feel the fence is much more interesting than the barn itself and most I think would agree with me.  The barn has been converted into a retail and operating artisan barn where there is a retail store along with space for artists to create their masterpieces.

Nikon D800: Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8: ISO 200: 1/125 @ f/8.0

 

There are numerous photographic opportunities for unique angles and framing of images as you can see from the few I have included in this blog. 

Nikon D800: Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8: ISO 200: 1/160 @ f/8.0

 

The yellow field behind the fence is canola.  I have asked several people and all told me that this is the first time they can remember this field being planted with that crop.

Nikon D800: Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6: ISO 200: 1/30 @ f/22.0

 

This panoramic view of the fence is only a part of the fence but I feel as though it conveys just how much hard work was put into its creation over 30 years.

iPhone 5s 4.12mm f./2.2


Comments

Suzan Guest(non-registered)
John - gee, I was there with you and I didn't know any of the facts about the place. And of course you got such interesting shots ... and the canola was wonderful. Keep on adventuring!
Ted(non-registered)
Great shots!
eldon parker(non-registered)
As always, very unique and interesting, john! Keep them coming.
Margo Graf(non-registered)
John,

You always capture such contrast with your photos and these are marvelous. Always enjoy your work!
Misty Williams(non-registered)
Thank you for including me. This is beautiful!!!
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