Barn Survey
Documenting Oakland Township's Historic Farmsteads
OTHS volunteers surveyed and recorded historic barns, farmsteads, and agricultural buildings throughout Oakland Township before more of these resources could disappear.
The Barn and Farmstead Survey
The Oakland Township Historical Society's barn survey team completed documentation of 62 farmsteads containing barns at least fifty years old. The work recorded buildings as parts of complete agricultural landscapes rather than as isolated structures.
Survey records include photographs, site plans, structural details, architectural features, and histories of the farms and families connected with each property.
62
historic farmsteads documented throughout Oakland Township
The Original Barn Survey Collage
This original collage brings together survey-team photographs, volunteers, farm buildings, and details encountered during the documentation project.
Original OTHS Barn Survey collage — select the image to view it larger.
Barns of Oakland Township
These original photographs are displayed individually so visitors can see the buildings more clearly. Select any image to open the full-size photograph.
What the Survey Preserves
The barn survey created a permanent research record of Oakland Township's agricultural heritage. The documentation helps connect surviving buildings with the land, families, and industries that shaped the township's rural history.
Site Plans
Locations and relationships among barns, houses, and outbuildings
Building Details
Construction methods, materials, measurements, and distinctive features
Farm Histories
Historic maps, property information, and stories connected with each site