Monday, June 4, 2012

Barn Charm: The Bayer Barn and Plant Security

Returning from our Son's home this past weekend we rounded a bend in the road and this barn came into view. I immediately said barn out loud so Hubs would know he probably needed to stop. He saw it too and said, yes, just about everything you want in a barn. I had to smile knowing he was finally 'getting it.'
He pulled off  to the right side of the two lane road as there was a lot of space. I got out and took a few pictures and had just begun getting back into the Jeep when a shiny red security truck from the Bayer Company plant across the road pulled in front of us. He got out of his truck and approached my husband's window saying hello folks how are you.
 My husband told him I was taking pictures of the barn. He looked at me and said yeah, we saw you point your camera that way. He asked if it was a digitial camera and when I said yes he asked if he could see my pictures. I showed him what I had taken. He went on to say I couldn't take photos of the plant by rules of the United States Coast Guard. The plant is along the banks of the Ohio River. It all stems from the events of 9/11. He informed me if I was going to be in the area again I could make a request and they would issue me a photography pass. I did ask and Bayer owns the barn.
When I know I'm going that way again I will definitely do so. Hubby said maybe they would even let me look inside.  I would have loved to have taken a shot of the other side of the barn but I didn't press it since I was getting to keep the photos I already had for which I was very grateful. This was the first time I have ever been questioned about the photos I was taking and I told the guard I always know it might happen. He was a very nice man and not intimidating in anyway.
Now, back to the barn. I think you can tell but those little black dogs in the foreground are cutouts. There were some in front of the plant as well. I have no idea why Bayer kept the barn but I'm glad they did.
I had zoomed in to get some of the details.
A closeup of the stone foundation.

Here is a closeup of the weathered wood barn behind the larger one. If you enlarge the picture I think you can see the heavy stones this one sits on. A new roof suggests that some attempt at preservation had taken place.
Linking to Tricia's Barn Charm.

42 comments:

Lee said...

Love it.

Sonya @ Under the Desert Sky said...

I love that this barn is green! I'm glad you were able to get a few photos of it.

TexWisGirl said...

it is unique in color, but nice! glad you were able to keep the photos!

Mari said...

Oh my - this is an amazing barn! Love the color, love the details, love the stone foundation!

The Farmers Daughter said...

Beautiful barn!!!! Maybe they'll paint the smaller one, too. Good shot. . .

Red said...

You'll remember this photo forever! Security can be very intimidating.
Nice shots of the barn and an interesting building

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Excellent barns---both of them. Love the old one also. But--that green one is quite fancy.... Glad you got its picture!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

Dimple said...

It's too bad, I think, that a person can't take a picture of a barn without wondering about being challenged...

It's a nice barn, though, and worth the effort and questioning! I'm glad the guard didn't intimidate you!

Carol said...

This is a gorgeous barn....what a find...hardly ever see a green barn

EG CameraGirl said...

Well, that sure was an experience, Carletta. I'm glad you were allowed to keep the photos. I like this barn very much.

Linda said...

This is a great barn! Glad they didn't haul you off!

Amy Burzese said...

That's a different green, but it looks nice. Glad you got to keep the photos.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

A very pretty barn. I've never seen one this color green. I like the details and the rock foundation.

Rose said...

It is a fantastic barn...I can't believe we both posted barns this color green this week! At least the guy was nice...

Brian King said...

That's a very unique and cool looking green! Love it with the white doors and silo! I've never seen a paint job quite like this.

Robyn said...

A green barn! What unique details with the stone and white. Great find and a story to boot.

George said...

You got some wonderful pictures of a neat barn and had an adventure in the process. I'm happy to say that I've never had security talk to me after taking some pictures.

Colin said...

Well that is indeed strange.
I wonder what actually is inside that "green barn"???
Would be an interesting exercise to ask for a photography pass and see what expires.
I wonder were they photographing you also, your number plate might be handy???
Trust that you are not now classified as "a person of interest" by US Intelligence agencies!
Don't worry I have been also investigated by the ASIO mob, a la FBI or CIA, here in 1968 in Wau, PNG. All over repeating what a 5 year old pupil told the other teacher in "morning talks". I repeated it to the "gales" of laughter at the Wau Hotel and Marion repeated it at the Wau Golf Club to the amusement of all. Little did anyone know that 'agents' were in the little town. So bizarre that even Walt Disney in his wildest dreams would have not come up with anything like it.
Yes, photographing barns might just have unexpected surprises - ha ha.
Cheers
Colin

Cheryl @ TFD said...

This is a beauty! Glad you got to keep your photos of it and show them to us!

Liz said...

How interesting! When hubby and I are out driving, he is always on the lookout for barns & other things of interest (I've trained him well!!). I am often more worried about owners getting annoyed with me taking photos so I usually use my 55-250mm lens.
I guess we are lucky living in Australia as we don't have so much security with regard to those things (though security at airports, etc is extremely tough as it is in the US).

Great barn shots Carletta and even better to be allowed to keep them after being approached by the officer. :)

eileeninmd said...

Carletta, it is a great barn. I do not understand why so much security for a barn? It is great they let you keep you photos. Have a great day!

Elaine said...

Love the barn! I would never have expected a security guard to question you taking photos of a barn. Hmmm, wonder what's inside.

judi/Gmj said...

Way to go! but why so protective of the barn? Scary dog tactics and all.
Fun anyway. Bayer as in aspirin?

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i hope to one day see a green barn. such a great barn. lots of details. (:

Becky said...

What a marvelous barn, and what an interesting story. Excellant catch Carletta. Glad you didn't get in trouble. I remember a while back I was photographing a military train that came through our area followed by several low flying helicopters. I took many shots, and later found out it is illegal to take pictures of a military train. You just never know.

Kathy said...

Everyone says green but I see aqua blue! Do I need to get my eyes checked? Whatever color it is, I love it!

Hmmm. Did you tell the gentleman that you would be posting a pic of this barn on the Internet? I know photos at train yards and water towers are also off limits to photographers sine 9/11. I was told by a vendor at a flea market that I was absolutely definitely not to take a picture of her jewelry booth. Go figure!

diane b said...

It is a sad world when we can't photograph what we want. Glad you were able to keep the shots. It is a beautiful specimen.

Tanya Breese said...

what a great looking barn and a nice man! 9/11 has sure changed so much of what we took for granted...i miss those days of "innocence"...

Carletta said...

LET ME SAY ONCE AGAIN, THE SECURITY GUARD WASN'T SO MUCH CONCERNED THAT I WAS TAKING PHOTOS OF THE BARN BUT THAT I WASN'T TAKING THEM OF THE BAYER PLANT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

YES, JUDI, BAYER AS IN THE ASPIRIN BUT THIS PLANT IS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HIGH-TECH POLYMER MATERIALS.

Neal said...

That's a neat barn. It looks like it has been taken care of. Great job.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Love the details on this barn- and the color is unique also. Glad he let you keep what you had taken.

Anonymous said...

I'm sooo glad you was able to keep the pics of this gorgeous barn & I"m also very glad he was so nice! I can't imagine having his job & seeing what all he goes thru from day to day... but, it's so hard to believe that it stems from 9/11, not that I think it's a lie, just that that event has caused such chaos & problems for so many people living here!

Glad he didn't make you erase the pics & I love the barn, it's, like I said, gorgeous!

RE: Blogger problems... I thought about buying more space, but the price has gone up considerably... from the $5 per year that you paid to $30 a year, now... I paid the $5 last year, but that's just too much of a jump in too little time, it isn't right, ya know. I don't like resizing my pics smaller, either, because of the quality, & I need all the quality I can grab on to!!! =)
One of the girls told me that she read on Blogger that if you join Google+ that there's no limit, so I joined & I'm probably going to text that out by not resizing my pics & see what happens... wish me luck! LoL! =)

Unknown said...

What an interesting stop. I've seen a barn painted that color before, LOVE IT

Jan n Jer said...

Very interesting story! I love the color of this barn...it's really a charmer!

Pat said...

I love the color of this barn and the way it is situated against the hill. Quite an interesting story behind the photo!

Debbie said...

a very intriguing story. so glad you were able to keep and share your images of this beautiful barn!!

it sure is a looker and that color, WoW!!!!

Nancy said...

It's beautiful, Carletta. :)

JunieRose2005 said...

Oh! It's a beautiful barn! Sorry you were hassled about getting the pictures-but they were worth it!!

Carole said...

*quote*I immediately said barn out loud so Hubs would know he probably needed to stop.*unquote*

My hubby can so relate. lol

We have been stopped and questioned at local dams about our camera as well. One of those precautionary measures that are now in place all over the world it seems.

That is one absolutely fabulous barn. I love the building, the green paint, and the decoration. Thanks for sharing them. :-)

Kateri said...

That is one beautiful barn. Like your husband says, it has everything that you would want in a barn.

Kerri Farley said...

What a COOl barn!!

LeAnn said...

Wow, that was a show stopper. I found it amazing that they won't let you take pictures. I am so happy you got to keep the ones you had taken. I loved them all. Barns are such a mystery in many ways. I loved dropping by and thanks for looking at my first barn pictures.
Blessings!