Indiana has tons of old barns that have fallen into disrepair. I guess you'd call this "rural decay" (as opposed to "urban decay").Depending on how you think about it, it's either sad or beautiful.
On the sad side:
These barns are a symptom of the declining farmer's culture in rural Indiana. They signify the end of the small-business farmer, those who made their living and supported their families farming dozens of acres, not thousands.
They exemplify the modern disregard for history. Is it old? Does it need some work? Tear it down and replace it. Don't put the effort into maintaining and restoring a piece of historic architecture.
On the beautiful side:
These barns are a monument to Indiana's roots in agriculture. It's refreshing that we can still drive just a handful of miles from Indianapolis and find farmland that isn't soiled by housing divisions or "progress."
They stand in testament to hard work and determination. Yes, they're old, but still perfectly functional. Sure, you could replace it with a run-of-the-mill pole barn, but then I wouldn't have it as a photographic subject anymore.
Can you tell which side I'm on?
Camera: Canon PowerShot SD1000 at about 5:45 p.m.
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