Photo: Skylar Kang

What does a 5 pointed star on a house mean?

The tradition of placing a star on American homes can be traced back to the 1700s in New England, according to one Web site. Farmers mounted five-pointed stars on their barns as a sign of good luck, like a horseshoe, or simply as decoration.

poststar.com - Answers Please: 5-pointed stars

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Q: Would you tell me the origin of the five-pointed stars that are so popular on people's houses? I once read that the five-pointed star had its origin in Satan worship.

- Evelyn Matwijcow, Salem

A: There's no single origin or meaning of the five-pointed star, according to numerous sources. The tradition of placing a star on American homes can be traced back to the 1700s in New England, according to one Web site. Farmers mounted five-pointed stars on their barns as a sign of good luck, like a horseshoe, or simply as decoration. Known as "barn stars," they became very popular in Pennsylvania during the 1800s, particularly after the Civil War. Barn stars originally were carved right into the barn, but later were made separately out of wood, metal or even roofing tiles, and attached to the building separately, according to tinntreasures.com. Five-pointed stars and the pentagram formed by the inside points have also been used throughout history to signify paganism, communism and socialism and militarism. The five-pointed star once represented the 10 tribes of Israel. Turned upside-down, the star has been used by Satanists in their rituals. The Freemasons of the United States have a five-pointed star as a symbol representing the five points of fellowship. The star is also used as the symbol of some fraternal organizations. The five-pointed star is also part of many state and national flags, including the flag of the United States. According to ushistory.org, Betsy Ross allegedly chose the five-pointed star over a six-pointed star for her flag because it could be cut with one snip of a scissor. You can read a lot into the meaning of a five-pointed star. But for the most part, many homeowners view them as decorations.

Q: I've been told that, for small engines stored over the wintertime, ie. lawnmowers, motorcycles, etc., the ethanol in gasoline breaks down and turns into a lacquer. What places sell non-ethanol gasoline in this area?

- George Goodwin

A: Ethanol-free gasoline is preferred by some over ethanol-added gasoline because it performs better in small engines such as those for motorcycles, lawnmowers, snowblowers and boats. Ethanol-added gasoline burns hotter and absorbs more moisture than ethanol-free gas, characteristics that some mechanics say can damage smaller engines and rot the hoses. However, very few places sell gasoline without some kind of ethanol additive. One such place around here is Rhoades Service Center, located at 1904 Western Ave. in Albany. Another is Gendron's Sales & Service Station at 696 River St. in Troy. And Gendron's Pit Stop North at 125th and Fifth Avenue in Troy has just started selling it. Non-ethanol gas is more expensive than ethanol-added gas, since it has to be imported from Canada. At Rhoades, the price for a gallon of 87-octane non-ethanol gas on Friday was $3.16, while you could get it for $2.95 a gallon at Gendron's. Kevin Gendron, owner of Gendron's Sales & Service, says there's a very high demand for the non-ethanol gasoline because of the damage that ethanol "wreaks" on small engines. He said one customer comes in every week just to get ethanol-free fuel for his small airplane. Jeff Alden of L.A. & Son on Corinth Road in Queensbury said gasoline left in engines over the winter can become watery and can damage the engine's carburetor. But he doesn't recommend replacing the gasoline with a non-ethanol brand or even using a gasoline additive. His advice: "Just drain the gas."

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Why are barns always painted red?

Rust was plentiful on farms and because it killed fungi and mosses that might grow on barns, and it was very effective as a sealant. It turned the mixture red in color. When paint became more available, many people chose red paint for their barns in honor of tradition.

ohiosamishcountry.com - Why are barns painted red? | Ohio's Amish Country

Why are barns painted red?

Doyle Yoder photo

Ever wonder why old barns are usually red in color? Red is (or, perhaps, was) a popular color for barns due not to its color shade but for its usefulness. Many years ago, choices for paints, sealers and other building materials did not exist. Farmers had to be resourceful in finding or making a paint that would protect and seal the wood on their barns. Hundreds of years ago, many farmers would seal their barns with linseed oil, which is an orange-colored oil derived from the seeds of the flax plant. To this oil, they would add a variety of things, most often milk and lime, but also ferrous oxide, or rust. Rust was plentiful on farms and because it killed fungi and mosses that might grow on barns, and it was very effective as a sealant. It turned the mixture red in color. When paint became more available, many people chose red paint for their barns in honor of tradition.

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