The Aucoin house in St. Joseph du Moine is unique in that it is characterized by having the barn and house attached. This was a necessity due to the intense winds that blow from an easterly direction during the winter months and wreck havoc along this particular section of the coast.

Built in the 1890's by Gabriel P. Aucoin at the rear of St. Joseph du Moine, it stood in that location until 1954 when the entire structure was hauled a distance of two miles to St. Joseph du Moine. This move was necessitated as the population concentrated along the coast providing services to the area. Thus the original home proved too isolated and Gabrial's son, Joe G., felt the need to move.

Using tractors the house was hauled in one piece and the barn dismantled in sections, hauled, and reassembled adjacent to Route 19.

Several homes in the St. Joseph du Moine, Grand Etang area are typical of this type of structure. Some have a small corridor between the house and barn that served as an entrance. This entrance had two doors entering the house and barn and proved invaluable during major storms.

The house belonging to Joe G. Aucoin was purposely designed without the corridor. As a result of interior doors opening and closing, the smell of the barn would enter the house leaving an unpleasant aroma. As a result, Mr. Aucoin preferred an attached barn with an outside entrance.

When the house was hauled to its present state it lacked the basic utilities. Since 1954 the house has been equipped with modern conveniences but still retains the character and uniqueness of its original state.

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