If you walk along the railroad tracks for a short distance outside Barboursville, you will come upon this small building sitting in the woods beside the tracks. It is too small to be a house, and too fancy to be a storage building. Although it is a little overgrown and there are no signs of occupation, the building is neatly painted and clean.
So we end our visit to Barboursville with another strange house. I am sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this implausible little building. I just can't think what it might be.
It appears architecturally to be an office, perhaps either a law office, doctor's office, or even a bank. I have seen examples of all three that look similar to your building.
ReplyDeleteJudging by the size and details, it probably dates to before the Civil War, maybe to the Reconstruction era. I doubt it dates after Reconstruction, it is much too restrained stylistically for that era.
W. White
Author
Preservation in Mississippi
Thanks for your interesting observations. I hadn't considered the possibility that it might be some kind of office, but that certainly makes sense.
ReplyDeleteThe location is a little odd, but if it is as old as you suggest, the lay of the land may have been very different and the location more appropriate.
I might add that the architectural style of this building is not very common in this area.
Thanks again.