Building Styles Explored - Carpenter's and Builder's Math, Plans, and Specifications - page 291

The idea of the pole-type building is not new. This type of
construction was well-known at least 75 years ago, but it was
generally used only on inexpensive and temporary buildings. The
modern pole building can hardly be placed in this category. The
poles used are now pressure-treated with a preservative and have
a long life even under most adverse conditions. Modern timber
fastenings are far superior to anything that our forefathers had
available.
Where rafters or trusses connect to the poles, it is preferable that
the poles be flattened at the contacting surfaces (see Figure 10-13).
Cast-iron spike-grids, with one side curved to conform to the round
side of the pole, have been satisfactorily used. However, simple bolts
are also often used.
Figure 10-13 A bent of a pole-type hay storage barn, with feed-
ing fence and canopy at the right. Roofs of these buildings may
be trussed, eliminating the interior poles. Bents may be set 12
to 16 feet on centers.
Summary
Many of the two-story New England houses built in the 1600s are
still standing today. Features found in most original houses were
steep roof slopes, wood shingles, narrow eaves, and wide corner
boards. The siding was always narrow when used in conjunction
with the wide corner boards. Entrances, however, were usually elab-
orate, sometimes with finely scrolled and cornered pediments.