The Southeastern Massachusetts hay cap
Posted on June 2, 2025 by Jenny ONeill
Hay caps, painting by Mary Hicks Brown
Hay caps by R. Swain Gifford
The Southeastern Massachusetts Hay Cap
These images show a special method for safely storing hay, a moveable roof supported by four posts, historically called a Dutch roof, dutch cap, hay barrack, or hay cap.
Building the stack was a skilled task, as it needed to be made waterproof during construction. The haystack would compress under its own weight, allowing the hay to cure through the release of heat generated by the residual moisture and compression forces.
Alternatively, an upper story of a barn was used, with hatches in the floor to allow hay to be thrown down into hay-racks below.
