Then
& Now Dutch Barns and English Barns By Susan E. Leath Zdgiebloski’s Dutch barn as seen from Elm Avenue.
Cover: The Wemp barn on Onesquethaw Creek Road in Feura Bush is a New World Dutch barn. It is owned by the Dutch Barn Preservation Society and is open to the public.
Utilitarian, rustic, commonplace. Bethlehem barns are all those, as well as functional, useful, spacious, soaring, and sheltering. Reflecting the heritage of those who constructed them, early barns here fall into two general categories, Dutch barns and English barns. While only a few Dutch barns are left in town, there are many examples of English barns. The New World Dutch barn echoes the early Dutch settlement in our area. Built between 1630 and 1825, these barns were the all-purpose building on the farm housing animals, storing hay and providing a threshing floor for grain. They are typically square shaped. Doors are located on the gable end and were sometimes split like a typical Dutch door. The lower half could be closed to keep animals in while the upper portion is open for light and ventilation. Inside, H-bent construction is evident in the vertical posts and horizontal anchor beams joined with mortise and
A variety of farm structures are visible behind the horse including an English-style barn on the left. From left to right are unknown, Dorothy Wright, Elizabeth Wright, Esther Wright and Walter Wright.
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tenon joints. The H-bents, huge and solid marching down the center of the barn, create a central aisle that is surprisingly airy and lofty. The Zdgiebloski barn on Elm Avenue is one extant example of Dutch barns in Bethlehem. Henry and Helen Zdgiebloski, both born in Poland, were doing general farming here by the 1930 U.S. census. The census indicates they lived on Houck’s Corners Cross Road with their five sons, Stanley, Henry, Peter, Joseph, and John. Their children attended the one room school at Houck’s Corners. Houck’s Corners is the intersection of today’s Feura Bush Road and Elm Avenue. The Altamont Enterprise provides us with a glimpse of the children’s activities in the 1930s. Both Joseph and John participated in a district wide School Garden Exhibit in September 1935. Stanley must have raised his own cattle - he advertised often in the 1930’s selling Guernsey cows. The barn and farmhouse continue in the Zdgiebloski family today. The barn was likely built much earlier than the Zdgiebloski’s ownership, possibly around the time that Jacob Kimmey signed a lease with the patron in 1792. Settlers with roots in New England tended to construct English-style barns. Many of these folks arrived in Bethlehem, Albany County and points west after the American Revolution. English barns contrast to Dutch barns by being generally rectangular in shape with large doors in the middle of the long side. By the mid 1800s farmers were adapting their barns to the growing dairy industry by raising the barns onto taller foundations creating a basement level. Basement barns became typical and widespread. The lower level was created with a foundation of stone or concrete and this is where the animals were housed. The main level was a threshing floor and storage for grain and equipment. Lofts filled the heights for hay storage. The main level was sometimes reached by dirt ramp and wooden bridge. The yellow barns on Clapper Road are part of the 205 acres that Abraham and Wilhelmus Westervelt purchased from the Patroon in 1808. By the 1840s
Summer at
The Bethlehem YMCA Summer’s here and the time is right for registering your The Bethlehem YMCA swim team, the BAY Rays, recently won their first North Country League championship and they didn’t stop there. They followed up that successful meet by finishing second at the New York State YMCA swimming Championships.
Claire Gerdemann finished third in the 50 meter Backstroke, while Olivia Martin finished seventh in the 50 meter Breaststroke. Claire and Olivia were the top 11 year olds in the state in those events. Jason Wu finished second in the 50 yard Freestyle for the 11/12 year-old boys; Keith Winne finished third in the 11/12 year-old 50 meter Breaststroke; Brody Staff finished third in the 25 yard Butterfly for the 8 and under boys in his first season on the team. Jane Sherwin finished sixth overall in the 100 Yard Butterfly for the 15/18 year-old girls. Jackson Gray finished second overall in the 8 and under 100 yard Freestyle; Clarissa Ball finished second in the 25 yard Butterfly for the 8 and under girls; Gillian Burch represented the Bethlehem Area YMCA Rays at the YMCA Swimming Nationals in early April for 13/14 yr old girls. Gillian qualified in the 200 Breaststroke and the 100 Breaststroke where she finished in the top 100 in the nation and represented the team in great fashion. This accomplishment was a milestone for the team as this was the BAY Rays first national qualifier since its establishment in June 2011. Joseph Gravino finished third overall in the 100 Freestyle for the 13/14 year-old boys and Max Kaback finished third in both the 50 meter Freestyle and Butterfly in 10 year-old boys.
Every swimmer achieved personal bests in at least one if not all of their events. The many outstanding performances of the team and the individual swimmers proves that the Bethlehem Y has one of the fastest growing and most successful swimming programs in the entire state and we are very proud of them! Tracy Kaback, parent of two swimmers said: “The thing I hear so often poolside among parents is how proud we are of our swimmers for their constant encouragement and kindness toward each other in and out of the pool. Watching the team bond more at States confirmed that while swimming is in individual accomplishment against the clock, it’s the sportsmanship and friendships that help make up the love of the sport.” Coach Josh Wolin said: “This year at states could not have gone any better. Based off the pre-meet rankings the team was coming in seeded fifth and had a tough task ahead of them. Going into the meet, the team faced some devastating injuries. Every swimmer on the team stepped up and had the swims of their lives; which was awesome because they did it with a smile. I could not be more proud of any individual or group as I am of the 2014/2015 BAY Rays. Great Job to all!!!” The 8 and under and 11/12 year-old boys Freestyle and Medley Relay teams both finished first in the state in those events and in total age group scores; the 9/10 yearold boys team finished second in the freestyle relay; The 11/12 year-old girls combined age group finished second in the state in for 200 medley. Joseph Chiarella finished first in the 11/12 year-old 100 Freestyle, third in the 200 Individual Medley; Sydney Steinhardt came back from surgery to her collar bone to finish first in the 11/12 50 Yard backstroke and third in the 50 yard Freestyle. Grace Cassella finished in the top 10 for all three of her individual events for 11/12 year-old girls and helped lead the very successful 11/12 girls at both the league and state championships.
Executive Director and swim team parent Derek Martin said: “Our family has been part of this team since day one and I am so proud of all of our kids, and our coaches. Most importantly, we are part of something bigger than any individual, any accomplishment, and any accolade. We have experienced the maturation, the growth and the development of our children. We have done this as a cohesive unit of families and those values are demonstrated by our kids. They personify those very values on how they carry themselves, pick each other up after a race and have genuine love for swimming and competing on the Bay Rays. I have to say that is unique and is very special. We have watched our kids form bonds with each other that are unbreakable; grow into confident young people and have fun competing. They are as equally concerned about each other’s success as they are their own. Maybe more so. We have all contributed to overwhelming success of this team and I am proud of that.” Member, Bethlehem YMCA Board of Advisors Baycolumns.blogspot.com
Mark Hansen 518-439-4394
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