Barn enthusiast publishes first book

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BARN BOOK — Author and barn enthusiast Don Perkins recently released his first book, "The Barns of Maine: Our History, Our Stories." 

RAYMOND — Author and former Advertiser Democrat writer Don Perkins has released his first book, "The Barns of Maine: Our History, Our Stories."

In 2007-2008, Perkins wrote a series called "our barns" for the Gray-New Gloucester Independent that ran for 20 weeks, as well as a series of feature stories on area barns for the Advertiser Democrat for a year-and-a-half beginning in 2010. 

He also wrote a weekly column for the Portland Press Herald for seven years. 

"People urged me to build it into something greater," said Perkins, whose experience writing for local papers heightened his knowledge and interest in the history of Maine barns.

After about four years of extensive research and discovering The History Press, Perkins has published his first book.

"I was surprised a book like this had never been written before," said Perkins. 

"I was also surprised to find how little was available about Maine's barns. There are barn books, but they are regional or national ... there are no Maine barn books. It was an honor for me to write this."

Perkins is a former carpenter and woodworker with a longtime interest in timber framing. Over the years, he has developed a passion for barns. 

"I went to vocational school in high school for carpentry and built homes in the Sebago Lake area," Perkins said. 

"At 27 years old, I got carpal tunnel and had to look for something else to do," he said. 

"I went back to school and was going to be a [wood] shop teacher, but to make the long story short, I changed majors because I found that I was terrible in math ... I found out through my other courses that I was very good at writing, so I switched to English."

The book, The Barns of Maine: Our History, Our Stories," was officially released on September 4. Copies are available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, The History Press, Sherman's Books in Freeport and the Maine State Museum in Augusta.

According to Perkins, his 192-page book covers the history of about 30 barns statewide. 

The book revolves around the complex engineering of early barns, said Perkins, as well as the people who built them. 

"It was interesting learning of the different trends and features [of barns] in different parts of the state," said Perkins. In Aroostook County, for instance, he discovered almost all the barns are detached from the house and have a gambrel-shaped roof. "They look like barns you'd see in the mid-west."

Perkins said it's an honor to write about Maine barns, as barns in general are rapidly disappearing.

Perkins is a member of the Timber Framers Guild, has led barn tours and has spoken at several local historical societies.

On October 6, Perkins will lead the 3rd Annual Barn tour in Freeport, sponsored by the Freeport Historical Society.

The event will feature visits to four unique barns built during the late eighteenth through the early twentieth centuries. While there, Perkins will talk about the historic roles of barns, how their construction has evolved and how it relates to the evolving economic challenges facing farmers in the area.