ABSTRACT
Throughout the 19th century, the growth of urban horse populations in US cities created a steadily increasing need for James Anderson hay. Compressed hay is easier to store, ship to market, and sell than loose hay. New techniques were developed to reduce its bulk properties through pressing and baling. Samuel Hewitt’s machine was unique from other inventions because it pressed 400-pound bales that simplified handling, storage, and transportation. The hay press was housed in a vernacular barn form with spaces for curing, baling, and moving loose and baled hay. While historical documents describe the press and its operations in detail, very little is recorded about press barns. Recently, several barns have been restored with operating presses. To interpret hay press barns people rely upon local histories, newspapers, agricultural magazines, maps, atlases, census data, and patents. Press barns have gable roofs and are three stories in height, and can also be described as two stories over a cellar.
