History of Barn Keepers

Barns were easily the most important structure on a farmstead, often surpassing the farmer's own residence in quality of construction and certainly in size. The barn provided shelter for livestock, storage for grain and hay, a place to keep tools and equipment and a site to perform various work activities. They sometimes doubled as centers for social activities such as barn dances and husking bees. Erecting the barn was a social event too, and "barn raisings" offered a welcome break from the isolation of everyday life.

The earliest barns in Central Illinois were modest log buildings, but by the mid-1800s post-and-beam construction using massive timbers for the framing, held together with wooden pegs, was standard. These barns were built in a variety of styles (shown on the panels opposite) and often reflected the builder's regional or national origin.

With the steady increase in mechanized farming in the 20th Century, barns became less and less essential to the farm's operation. Other, more specialized structures were developed to house machinery and store crops. Existing barns fell into disrepair and, being viewed no longer as an asset but a tax liability, many were torn down. For example, a listing done in 1955 cited 120-130 barns in Arrowsmith Township; a recent survey identified only 42 remaining.

In recent years, interest in preserving old barns has risen. Locally, the McLean County Barn Group was formed last fall to promote the documentation, restoration and preservation of these vanishing landmarks of our rural countryside.

Our Mission

Gather and document information about BARNS in McLean County, and provide leadership to organize and encourage people who are interested in preserving barns and their history.

Our Goals

• Promote community interest and awareness in old barns
• Enable preservation of barns
• Preserve the history of barns
• Expand historic preservation to the county level
• Promote legislation effecting the preservation of McLean County barns

David Davis Barn

Many people may not realize that the Davis Family Mansion we all recognize today actually began in the 1840s as a working farm complete with chicken coop, hog pen, hen house, animal pens, corncrib, and windmill. The Davis family purchased a 1 1/2-story farmhouse on 190 acres from Jesse Fell in 1843. From 1843 to 1872, they expanded the estate to 1,200 contiguous acres with tenant farmers and orchards. By the late 19th Century, the City of Bloomington had grown to make this a suburban estate, and with subdivisions in 1945 and 1960, the old farm finally became an elegant City Home. The original house was moved to what is now Colton Street prior to building the Mansion in 1872, and most of the farm outbuildings had been demolished by 1960. The only remnants of the original farm buildings are the Foaling Shed, circa 1872, now used as public restrooms, the Carriage Barn, circa 1868, used for vehicles and storage, and the focus of our story today and the heart of every farm the barn.

The barn is the only remaining pre-Civil War structure on the site, and the only building visited by the Davis family's close friend and colleague, Abraham Lincoln. All the others were built after Lincoln died. It's entirely possible Lincoln stabled his horse, Old Buck, here when visiting.

The first floor held stalls for seven horses, and room for harnesses and equipment. A second floor loft provided storage for hay and grain, which was dropped through openings in the loft floor to the individual stalls below. Particularly on wet or humid days, we can still smell the horses that once occupied this barn.

Characterized by quality craftmanship, the barn was built to last. Massive cut pine logs, pegged in a post and beam frame, support the entire structure, which is just as solid today as it was when it was built nearly 150 years ago. According to a family letter, the original cost was about $2,000.

Visit the David Davis Mansion Horse Barn at 1000 E. Monroe, Bloomington. There you may note the large sliding barn doors, "the 6 over 6 window panes," and the pegs for holding saddles & harnesses. Also in the building is an exhibit, "Barns of McLean County;" come and learn more about the McLean County Barn Survey.

Written by Mark Edwards, member of the McLean County Barn Committee, and Director of the Old House Society

Barn Books

A few books available about barns:

American Barns by Randy Leffingwell. Motorbooks International, 1997.

American Barns: A Pictorial History by Jill Caravan. Courage Books, 1995.

American Country Building Design: Rediscovering Plans for 19th Century Farmhouses, Cottages, Landscapes, Barns, Carraige Houses, and Outbuildings by Donald Berg. Sterling Publishing, 1997.

Barn Again! A National Program to Preserve Historic Farm Buildings: A Guide to Barn Preservation by Mary Humstone. National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, Merideth Corporation, 1997.

Barns Across America by Herber Bouland. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1998.

Barns of the Midwest by Allen G. Noble and Hubert G.H. Wilhem. Swallow Press, 1995.

Barns of Yesteryears by Barbara Black and Elinor Attebery. Naturegraph Publishers, 1993.

New World Dutch Barn: The Evolution, Forms, and Structure of a Disappearing Icon by John Fitchen and Gregory Huber. Syracuse University Press, 2001.

The Old Barn Book; A Field Guide to North American Barns and Other Farm Structures by Allen Noble, Richard Cleek, and Margaret Geib. Rutgers University Press, 1995.

Old Barn Plans by Richard Rawson. Bonanza Books, 1982.

Old Barns in the New World: Reconstructing History by Richard Babcock and Lauren Stevens. Berkshire House Publishers, 1996.

Old House Book of Barn Plans by Richard Rawson. Sterling, 1990.

Preservation of Historic Barns by Michael Auer. U.S. Department for the Interior, National Park Service, Preservation Assistance Division, 1989.

A Round Indiana: Round Barns in the Hoosier State by John Hanou. Purdue University Press, 1993.

Silent Spaces: The Last of the Great Asiled Barns by Malcom Kirk. Little, Brown, 1994.

This Old Barn by Ken Wysocky and Roy Reiman. Country Books, 1996.

Ultimate Book of Historic Barns: History, Legend, Lore, Form, Function, Symbolism, Romance by Robin Sommer. Thunder Bay Press, 2000.

Using Old Farm Buildings by Dexter Johnso. National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1989.

Without Right Angles: The Round Barns of Iowa by Lowell Soilke, Penfield Press 1991.

Wood, Brick, and Stone: The North American Settlement Landscape: Barns and Farm Structures by Allen Noble. University of Massachusetts Press, 1986

Remember to check your local library for these and other great titles
Courtesy of:
Old House Society-(309) 821-9787 director@oldhousesociety.org

March 2001