American culture is reflected in its barns and churches.
Times change. Lots of things change quickly - but some things change slowly. It seems that in the history of America, green pastures, rolling hills, and majestic barns have changed slowly. Tall stately white churches seem to be slow to change as well. So if barns and churches change more slowly, does that make them a good reflection of our nation's past?
If a person takes a drive north from Pulaski, TN following Campbellsville Road up to Mount Pleasant, they will drive throughs some beautiful country. Think hills and hollows, and pretty farms and pretty barns. One could admire those beautiful landscapes and farms and ask, "A hundred years ago, did this look much different than it does today?"
Corinth, Mississippi is a town rich in history and pretty places. There one can find beautiful antebellum homes, old churches, and old buildings of all sorts. Some of those buildings were there over a hundred years ago, They were pretty then, and they are pretty now.
Barns are different than churches, but they have some similarities.
Barns and farms and farmers have been a big part of America as long as America has been a country. Old churches remind us that Americans have always been a religious people. If one looks at old churches or old barns, in either case we are reminded that Americans are a people of devotion and faith, hard work and hope.
An old barn is a place of quiet.
Inside an old barn one may hear birds singing or the wind moving softly, but a barn is a place of quiet. Here one can reflect on why - the why of many things. A barn is a reminder that man is not the highest power or the final authority. Man cannot change Mother Nature, but Nature can reward those who are willing to be a good farmer.
Pictured here is the Methodist Church in Elkton, TN.
A church is often a place of quiet. Inside a church one will often hear nothing at all. Here is another place where one can reflect on why - the why of many things. A church is also a reminder that man is not the highest power or the final authority - a place where man can see his/her own smallness yet still hope for greatness - given by the One who is the greatest.
A barn built in 1990 may look a lot like a barn from 1950, or 1890. As such it may give thought to how many things have not changed in this crazy world.
The First Presbyterian Church in Athens, AL is a pretty building and a pretty place. It was established in 1829. It has a beautiful prayer garden that is always open to anyone who wants to walk in and pray or just walk in and sit. The church stands right across from the courthouse in the center of town.
Riding south from Pulaski on highway 31, a traveler can see numerous old barns of various sizes, ages, and designs.
Pictured below is the Grassy Memorial Chapel at the Grassy Cemetery - established in 1894.
Grassy is not a city or even a town. It is an area and a community in north Alabama. But it is home for many people and as such is special. It is part of Americana.
In Closing:
Old American barns and churches are part of our history and part of our landscape and as such are part of our culture. They are a "picture book" expression of who we are and where we came from.
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Nice work, Rocky
This is wonderful!!! Love the photos of both old barns and old churches! 😊
Thanks for another enjoyable Post.
Patriot1776
Rocky, this is so cool! Thank you.
Thank you!
@hreedwork/chess.com