When this book was first published in the mid-1950s, the author was concerned that such functional structures as the American barn and the covered bridge would soon give way to progress and be replaced by “modern” elements. Today, a number of these sturdy, beautifully proportioned barns and bridges are still standing monuments to the skill and keen eye of their original builders. This lovingly written book, accompanied by more than 75 of the author’s own sketches, provides a reliable record of those vanishing forms of architecture. Accurate line drawings depict a variety of barns, such as those in Maine, attached to houses; an “open” log barn in Virginia, and a “top hat” barn in North Carolina. Covered bridges like barns, built for soundness and endurance are also illustrated, among them a saltbox structure in New England, a bridge with a pedestrian walkway in rural New York State, and a 10-span-long bridge at Clark’s Ferry, Pennsylvania. Possessing a deep feeling for what might be called the Age of Wood, the author writes with “warmth and astonishing comprehension.” New York Herald Tribune Book Review.Americana enthusiasts and lovers of these traditional symbols of early American life will delight in this priceless tribute to a bygone era. Over 75 black-and-white illustrations.