The main function of the later barn was to furnish the animals with shelter on the ground level. Hay and straw was kept on the upper level for storage through the winter months. The barn was also used for the storage and safety of farm equipment. The upper floor level was used to work on other farm chores and a forebay was built to provide protection against the animals and farmer when bad weather attacked. The barn arrangement and design was popular with farmers because it provided an ideal shelter for their animals and it was an ideal place for them to do their farm work.
Before 1800, farmers provided little or no shelter for their livestock. Although early farmers built barns, the German immigrants were the first to erect a barn to shelter their livestock. These different barns ended up to be known as "Sweitzer" barns. "Evenentually these were adopted by English and Scotish Irish settlers . . . , and became a characteristic feature of the Pennsylvania rural landscape." The Pennsylvania farmer has been eminent around the country as building good barns, almost all of which are stone.
There are many different classifications of barns in Pennsylvania. One researcher that studied German barns in Pennsylvania came up with eleven different forms. Some of the different types are The Bank Barn, Log Barn, The Frame Barn, Stone-wall Barn, and The Brick-end Barn.
Barn decorations are a very unique aspect of folk art in Pennsylvania. Painting and decoration added a different touch and it reflected the personality of the owner. On barns that are still standing, the decorations have been weathered over time and the owner has no intention to replacing the symbols. The owners believe that replacing them would take too much time and be too costly.
The Pennsylvania German farmers started to decorate their bank barns with large, colorful geometric patterns. These very colorful symbols are now called hex signs, they had meanings or "legends." Hex signs are usually in the form of large stars of various formats found on facades or gable ends of the barn. The word "hex" is the German word for "witch." According to literature found in the early 1920's these decorations were placed on barns to ward off evil influences from witches or even the Devil. This is only one theory of the meanings of the signs. Here is a small list of possible symbolism or meanings of the shapes and colors used in hex signs.
Black- protection
Red- emotions
White- purity
Heart- true love
Sun wheel- warmth and fertility
Rosettes- good luck
Tulips- faith and hope
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