A genuine American fence...
Worm, snake, Virginia splitrail, crooked rail, rick-rack, zig zag - by any name, traditionally stacked split rail fencing dominated the American fence landscape for over 200 years. A genuine American innovation, it was described in the colonies as early as 1652 in Hampton, Long Island. Using considerably more wood than a "post and rail" fence, it was, however, easy to build and required no fence posts. Given the abundance of lumber available to the colonists and the rocky nature of New England soils, the worm fence was the perfect solution in an era of widespread labor shortages.
Installation without posts took up a lot of room. To straighten the fence out and lock it in place, farmers would drive a pair of crossed posts into the ground at the junctions of the rails, then lay a heavy top "rider" rail in the crotch of the crossed posts (battlefield style). Another variation involved driving a pair of posts into the ground, stacking the rails between them, and fastening the tops of the post together with wire, nails, wooden blocks, even old horseshoes (traditional style).
By the 1870's, traditionally split rail fencing was the predominant fence type throughout the country (some sources indicating as much as 4 million miles!). While not used as widely used as it was 100 years ago, many of these original fences still line back country roads and overgrown pasture. A new generation of Americans is rediscovering the benefits of traditionally stacked split rail fencing. The ease and versatility of installation, the use of native Maine white cedar for beauty and longevity, and a style of materials and construction which evokes an emotional response and imparts an "established" look to a property have combined to spawn the rebirth of a truly original American art form.
