Sanbornton Public Library receives New Hampshire Humanities grant to present program on farm buildings

SANBORNTON ― Sanbornton Public Library will host the program, “Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn: The Connected Farm Buildings of New England” thanks to a grant from New Hampshire Humanities. 

The program will take place on Wednesday, April 29, at 6 p.m., at the Sanbornton Public Library.

Through architecture unique to northern New England, this illustrated talk focuses on several case studies that show how farmers converted their typical separate house and barns into connected farmsteads. Thomas Hubka's research in his award-winning book, "Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn: The Connected Farm Buildings of New England," demonstrates that average farmers were, in fact, motivated by competition with farmers in other regions of America, who had better soils and growing seasons and fewer rocks to clear. The connected farmstead organization, housing equal parts mixed-farming and home-industry, was one of the collective responses to the competitive threat.

Hubka also has publications such as "Resplendent Synagogue: Architecture and Worship in an 18th Century Polish Community" and "Houses Without Names: Architecture Nomenclature and the Classification of America's Common Houses." His newest book is entitled "The Transformation of Working-Class Houses and Domesticity, 1890-1940: Improved Homes for a New Middle Class." Hubka's research primarily interprets the historic development and relationships between architecture/buildings and culture/people.

New Hampshire Humanities is an independent statewide nonprofit that nurtures the joy of learning and inspires community engagement by bringing life-enhancing ideas from the humanities to the people of New Hampshire. Their grant made this program possible.

Learn more at nhhumanities.org.

Join us in the Woodman Room upstairs in the Sanbornton Public Library. There is an elevator available if needed. This program is free and open to the public, light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact the Sanbornton Public Library at (603) 286-8288 or splnhcirc@gmail.com Website: splnh.com.