U.S. #5547
2021 36¢ Barns – Gambrel-Roofed Barn in Summer
Issue Date: January 24, 2021
First Day City: Barnesville, GA
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Pane of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 100,000,000
In America, when we think of barns, most of us picture what is known as a gambrel-roofed barn. These symmetrical roofs have two slopes on each side, the lower ones at a sharper downward angle (also called a Dutch roof). In the 1848 Dictionary of Americanisms, a gambrel was defined as "A hipped roof of a house, so called from the resemblance to the hind leg of a horse which by farriers is termed the gambrel."
Gambrel-roofed barns have been around for hundreds of years. The first-known gambrel-roofed building in America was the second Harvard hall at Harvard university. It was built in 1677. Gambrel roofs later became popular for barns because they combined the qualities of a regular sloped roof with increased height. This meant the greater space in the upper level of the barn had a much larger storage area than traditional barns. This space would hold hay, grain, equipment, or anything else the farmer needed.
While many building techniques and designs have been introduced over the years, the gambrel-roofed barn remains popular. When one sees a traditionally painted red and white gambrel-roofed barn, one can't help but feel a little nostalgic for days gone by. These buildings dot the American countryside and are reminders of the importance of agriculture in our nation's development.