395 Shaffer Road, Newfield

This barn, with its easily identifiable "7-UP" painting, is an example of how barns were commonly used for advertisements. This practice had a long history in the United States. The first such signs appeared on covered bridges. Barns became more popular as billboards during the railroad age because they could be seen easily from trains. In the age of auto-tourism, it came to symbolize the dominance of commercialism over traditional farm culture. However, the practice also reflected the versatility of barns. At this farm, known as Plenty of Posies, two early barns were combined on a new foundation ca. 1885. Their gable roofs were converted to a gambrel. The barn was adapted to a new use beginning in 1986 when two of the bays were converted to living space.

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