Rock City Barns

Barn sign paintings were a popular advertisement media in the past.  Most everyone is familiar with the Mail Pouch Barns, but there was another popular barn advertisement - Rock City.  Rock City is located in northern Georgia, not too far from Chattanooga, TN.

The three barns pictured here are located on 31 E in Kentucky. Before the interstate, this was a major north/south route, and the barn advertisements were designed to entice travelers to visit Rock City.

To those of you who read The Road, you'll recall the father and son saw these Rock City advertisements along the road they traveled.  Since they ended up at the sea, this was a clue that they were traveling south, and were north of Georgia.

It is nice to see that some of these historical treasures are still standing.  I have never visited Rock City, but think this may just be the year to do it.

Hanging Tobacco - Rineyville, Kentucky

I of course know the ills of smoking. But, I still think there is a unique beauty to the tobacco plant. On our walk recently we came upon a farmer hanging tobacco in the barn. We started taking pictures from a distance when he invited us to come into the barn to take more pictures, and see the operation up close. This is hard work! I remember in past years seeing tobacco proudly wearing its ribbons at the state fair.

Yes, I think it is beautiful too.

The Frost is on the Pumpkin

There has been frost the last two mornings and we will be on the road before the weather turns colder. The afternoons have been just absolutely beautiful though, and that makes it hard to leave.


I am posting a couple of barn photos that I took just a week or two ago. The barns in Kentuky often stand until they can't stand any longer. There is a certain amount of beauty in the aging structures.

The Red Barn

I took this picture of the red barn last year. It is weathered and rustic, but still beautiful. Today when I drove by the red barn, I descovered that it is coming down. Seems by the sign on the property that it is giving way to a medical center. Progress?