Old Barns at Potomac Overlook

Old Barns at Potomac Overlook. Potomac Overlook Regional Park. , Barns were an integral part of life for early farmers who once tilled the local soils. They housed livestock and were used for storing feed, produce, and farm equipment. Though the farmers are now gone, the remains of the old barns can still be found, lending mute testament to a bygone era. Two barns once stood near this marker, hewn from logs and set upon foundations of mortar and stone., [Captions:] , 1. This photograph (taken around 1930) shows a barn which stood about 30 feet to the left of this marker. It was made of pine logs and had a loft inside where hay was kept. A plow horse was stabled under the slanted roof seen projecting off the right side of the barn. The barn burned to the ground in 1947 on Halloween night., 2. 1887 deed and map of the Donaldson Farm., 3. The barn visible in the background of this photograph (circa 1890) is the oldest of the two at this site. It is believed to have been built in the late 1840s by Robert Donaldson (whose sister-in-law, Sara Donaldson, is pictured). The massive stone foundation of this barn lies just a few yards in front of this marker. A plow found in the ruins was generously donated to NOVA Parks by Sara Donaldson's granddaughter, Emma McDonald (the girl on the far left of the photograph) and is on display in the park.