Monday, January 31, 2011

Barn Charm


(enlarge for more detail)
I've posted about this kind of barn before; but I always stop and photograph one I haven't previously seen. For those of you who aren't familiar with them they are called Mail Pouch barns. It was a form of advertisement for a tobacco company out of Wheeling, West Virginia. I've said before I don't condone the advertisement itself. However, to those of us who grew up seeing them along the highways these old rustic barn billboards have become treasured as a vital piece of Americana.
In my latest research I found the Mail Pouch Company sold a sweet tobacco called WOW back in 1938. The product was short lived and only lasted about ten years. Fewer barns advertised WOW and today they are considered a rare find. Which is why I was happy I had stopped and taken a photo of this one last week. If you look closely the WOW logo is bleeding through the Mail Pouch one on this particular barn.

I included this shot especially for Tricia. She commented to me last week that all the barns I've posted seemed set among the hills. Yes, my West Virginia Hills...majestic and grand!
For more Barn Charm visit Tricia here.
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21 comments:

  1. RoseJanuary 31, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Oh, that last picture looks so good to me...hills and hollers are where I come from.

    And I love seeing the old Mail Pouch barbs...

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  2. RachelJanuary 31, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    I haven't spent too much time in that part of the country so I haven't seen barns like this before. It seems like an interesting way to advertise without having to put up huge billboards that distract from the wonderful landscape. Thanks for doing some research on the company, it's always interesting to find out more about what the story behind something is. the hills of West Virginia looks wonderful.

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  3. EG CameraGirlJanuary 31, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    I think the only place I have seen mail pouch barns is on your blog. :) They must be a West Virginia and surrounding area phenomenon. I think they are very cool heritage barns, a part of fairly recent history.

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  4. Betsy Banks AdamsJanuary 31, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Neat barn, Carletta.... I have never heard of the Mail Pouch company --but the barn reminded me of our See Rock City barns....

    Love your barn.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  5. ElaineJanuary 31, 2011 at 9:47 PM

    Lovely photo! I remember seeing the Mail Pouch barn advertisements when I was a kid on the West Coast. Out of curiosity I Googled Mail Pouch and found out the barns were painted from 1890 to 1992 over much of the country. At first the farmers were paid $1 to $2 dollars a year, but they also got their whole barn painted. That was a good deal for the farmers.

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  6. CarolJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:15 PM

    Great shots of this old barn. I do like the second photo with the hill behind. We have these mail pouch barns in Ohio also.

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  7. Kim, USAJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    I thought at first it's like the old store but it's a barn. That's really a rare find. Thanks for sharing!
    Barn Charm

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  8. Sally in WAJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    Beautiful capture, Carletta. I remember seeing advertisements on barns when I was growing up back east. This one seems to have some real history with that ad painted on it.

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  9. PerryJanuary 31, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    Very nice. You are right, a piece of american history there. I love seeing these paintings on buildings showing where we have come from. Thanks for sharing! Here is my entry.

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  10. GeorgeFebruary 1, 2011 at 12:01 AM

    You found another neat barn in a neat setting. I've seen Mail Pouch barns before, but never a WOW barn. All I can say is -- WOW, what a great capture.

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  11. SpringmanFebruary 1, 2011 at 1:02 AM

    WOW is right! I love these adverts on old buildings. Wonderful capture.

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  12. AnonymousFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    And this one, too, right there snuggled up next to the hill & CHECK OUT THAT FOUNDATION! The rock foundations are my faves... older & more history... I love history, too! =)
    I'd never heard of the WoW tobacco, but we do have a few ad-painted barns between here & St Louis that I remember seeing when I was a kid going up to visit my grand-parents. I'm going to have to get back out on the road & see if I can find some of them again...

    Thanks so much, Carletta!

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  13. AnonymousFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    PS That'll be my project when Spring hits... I love getting out when Spring finally arrives after all this gloomy cold weather! Oh, now I'm excited & can't wait!!! =)

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  14. Evelyn S.February 1, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    I love that you've captured two kinds of history in this photo....the barn and the advertising. There's something about those old advertisements painted on structures...quite nostalgic!

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  15. kayerjFebruary 1, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    love these barn shots you've been posting.

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  16. Janie BFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:09 PM

    Really great pictures. I may have to paint that scene.

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  17. diane bFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    A barn with character.

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  18. JunieRose2005February 2, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    Very nice! I love seeing all the old barns that you find!!

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  19. NealFebruary 2, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    I love the last picture with the hill. :) There used to be one or two of those barns on our way to TN.

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  20. PatFebruary 2, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    The stories this barn could tell! This is just great!

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  21. DebbieFebruary 12, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    You know I love barns and I remember when you posted the other photo...

    I need to go for some country rides and see what I can find. This is NC and there should be some!!

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