Bert Breen's Barn Resources

Utica College houses the Walter D. Edmonds Collection, which includes his papers, books, information about his interests, and catalogs of his stories and articles. Get digging.

Dying to know more about Boonville? Plan a vacation there? Get extra deets on the area where Bert Breen's Barn is set? Here's the town's website.

Bert Breen's Barn hasn't been made into a movie (yet…hint, hint, all you aspiring filmmakers). But some of Edmonds' other novels and stories have been adapted for the screen. Get the IMDb list here.

The best-known movie production of an Edmonds text is Drums Along the Mohawk, released in theaters in 1939 (the book came out in 1936). If you're in the mood for a serious throwback cinema experience, check out the preview here.

Here's the New York Times' obit in honor of Walter D. Edmonds when he died in 1998.

Take a look at this article on Edmonds' childhood home and life, along with some peeks into his philosophy on writing.

This video has some great footage of the town, including places mentioned in Bert Breen's Barn such as the Hulbert House and the train station. It starts up focusing on the Black River Canal Museum, but you can blow forward to about minute 3:15 to get to the Boonville bits.

Remember that snowstorm Tom has to muddle through in chapter 13? It's not just a plot device: Boonville is well known for being part of the snowbelt, which wasn't awesome for Tom, but is a big attraction for snow sports enthusiasts today. Here's some footage from the 2011-2012 East Coast Snocross. Bonus cool shots of the town at the beginning. Maybe that would have been Tom's dream if he'd lived a century later?

Listen to Walter D. Edmonds talk about his background as a writer. Plus, he's got a wonderfully lucid voice, perfect for easy listening. Step aside, Kenny G.

Here's a pic of Bert Breen's Barn's author. Do you think he has a bit of the farmer left in him?

The cover art shows Tom schlepping through the winter weather on his snowshoes. The barn is in the background—and it better be, since it has the title role.

Among the geography deets Tom mentions is the Black River canal, which he passes over several times throughout the book. Here's a picture of what his view would have been like. Not a bad spot for a hike—at least, if you're not trudging to work in the snow before dawn, it is.