I thought it was a type of 'balloon framing'. The barn is 1902, open raftered with two hand hewn 'balloon rafters' running east/west above central vertical supports.

I was explaining to the current owner that the bracing was apparently to provide stability and strength to the side walls where they became load bearing so the walls wouldn't belly out, I just wasn't certain of the term for the bracing.
Thanks!

Last edited by go_figure; 09/30/13 10:14 PM.