Barns of Wisconsin

I wrote the first edition of Barns of Wisconsin in 1977, soon 40 years ago. It has been available ever since.  Most recently, working with my son, Steve, the Wisconsin Historical Society Press published a third revised edition with Steve’s photos and much of the original material plus some updating.

I remember back in 1976, when I first worked on the book.  My publisher then, not WHSP was concerned that few people would be interested in a book about barns, even if it contained beautiful pictures.  We soon discovered that people were interested, and continue to be interested today.

With these words I tried to capture the reason why so many people continue to love the old barns:

“The barns of Wisconsin are history books in red paint, sociology with gable roofs, theology with lightning rods.  In many ways, barns are Wisconsin agriculture nailed together in buildings with cupolas on the top.  Here is where both life and death on the farm often occurred simultaneously; here is where farm boys and girls learned about responsibility; and where many a farmer began and ended  his day 365 days a year for his entire life.”

If interested in buying the book, stop by your local bookstore, or check my website, www.jerryapps.com  where you can also buy it.

Come  by the Albertson Library in Albany, WI Tuesday evening (9-20) (7:00 p.m.), where I’ll be showing pictures and talking about Wisconsin barns.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Save an old barn and you save a piece of history.

Workshop: Writing From Your Life:  Offered at The Clearing, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on October 28.  Call 920-854-4088 to learn more and to register.

Upcoming Events:

September 20, Albertson Memorial Library, 200 N. Water Street, Albany, WI.  7:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin.

September 21, Stonefield Village, Casville, WI. 11:00 a.m. Telling Your Story: Why it's important and how to do it.

September 29, Whitewater Library, 6:00 p.m. Roshara Journal.

October 1, 9-5,”How to tell your personal story.” Writing  Workshop, Edgerton, Masonic Lodge.  Call 608-884-3367 for further information.

October 2, Mystery to Me Book Store, Madison. 2:00 p.m. Roshara Journal.

October 6-7, Heartland Book Forum, Minneapolis.

October 15, 7:00 p.m. Wisconsin Writer’s Association, Riverwalk Hotel, 123 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Neenah, WI Keynote speech.

Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fundraiser for them): 

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs:

 Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps (based on The Quiet Season book.)

 Jerry Apps a Farm Story (based on Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm books.)

 The Land with Jerry Apps, (based on the book Whispers and Shadows.)

Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including: Jerry’s newest novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County. and Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

Jerry’s newest books, Roshara Journal (with photos by Steve Apps) and Telling Your Story—a guide book for those who want to write their stories—are also available.

Contact the library for prices and special package deals.

Patterson Memorial Library

500 Division Street

Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835