Robert Weber Round Barn
Encyclopedia
The Robert Weber Round Barn is a round barn
located east of Durand, Illinois
, United States along Illinois Route 75
in Harrison Township
. The Weber barn was constructed in 1917 and features a roof designed and built by the Haas Brothers, who worked on other area round barns. The barn is 55 feet (16.8 m) in diameter and features a 24 feet (7.3 m) diameter central silo
. The design of the Weber Round Barn stands out from other area round barns in its vitrified tile
walls, a development used in later period American round barns. The Robert Weber Round Barn was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1984.
in Harrison Township
along Illinois Route 75
. When the building was nominated for inclusion on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984 it was owned by Robert Weber.
of 55 feet (16.8 m) and contains a central silo
with a diameter of 24 feet (7.3 m). Both the barn and silo walls are constructed of brown, hollow vitrified tile
; each tile measures 1 foot (0.3048 m) by 4¾ inches. The Weber Round Barn was designed as a bank barn
, its loft is entered on the north side via an earthen ramp that leads to a metal framed door. Livestock entry is made on the west side of the barn through another metal framed door, in addition, all windows are metal framed.
The single hip roof
is supported by braces on either side of every rafter
in a style promoted by the University of Illinois' Agricultural Experiment Station
. The roof is covered in wooden shingle
s and capped by a small metal ventilator. The roof design and construction, by the Haas Brothers, connects it closely with round barns found in Stephenson County, Illinois
that feature Haas Brothers construction. The Weber Barn was the last in the Stephenson County area that the Haas Brothers worked on. The Weber Round Barn does differ from the barns in neighboring Stephenson County in its vitrified tile wall. This type of tile wall demonstrates an important period in the evolution of round barn design. Vitrified tile was preferred by builders during the final period of American round barn construction.
The Weber Round Barn stands out from other round barns, such as those in Stephenson County, as well. Compared to those barns, the Dennis Otte Round Barn, the Gerald Harbach Round Barn, James Bruce Round Barn, Chris Jensen Round Barn and the Charles Fehr Round Barn, the Weber Round Barn has an air of sophistication. This is due to its masonry
walls, specially braced hip roof and metal framed windows and doors.
s that were constructed in a four county area, the Stephenson County area, that includes Winnebago County
, Stephenson County and Rock
and Green
Counties in Wisconsin
. Twenty one of those barns are within Stephenson County, just west of the Weber Barn. The Weber Barn is also significant for its tile walls which demonstrate a later period round barn preference.
The Weber Round Barn was nominated for the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1984 as part of the inaugural nomination through the Round Barns in Illinois Thematic Resources
Multiple Property Submission. This means it met the criteria laid out beforehand for Illinois round barns. The building was listed on the National Register on February 2, 1984.
Round barn
A round barn is a historic barn design that could be octagonal, polygonal, or circular in plan. Though round barns were not as popular as some other barn designs, their unique shape makes them noticeable. The years from 1880–1920 represent the height of round barn construction. Round barn...
located east of Durand, Illinois
Durand, Illinois
Durand is a village in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States. It is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area The population was 1,443 at the 2010 census, up from 1,081 at the 2000 census.- Geography :...
, United States along Illinois Route 75
Illinois Route 75
Illinois Route 75 is an east–west state road in north-central Illinois. It runs from downtown Freeport at Illinois Route 26 to WIS 67 at the Wisconsin state line southeast of Beloit, Wisconsin. This is a distance of .- Route description :...
in Harrison Township
Harrison Township, Winnebago County, Illinois
Harrison Township is located in Winnebago County, Illinois. The population was 713 at the 2000 census.- External links :***...
. The Weber barn was constructed in 1917 and features a roof designed and built by the Haas Brothers, who worked on other area round barns. The barn is 55 feet (16.8 m) in diameter and features a 24 feet (7.3 m) diameter central silo
Silo
A silo is a structure for storing bulk materials.Silo may also refer to:* Silo , a 3D modeling software* Silo , a defunct chain of retail electronics stores* SILO , used in Linux...
. The design of the Weber Round Barn stands out from other area round barns in its vitrified tile
Vitrified Tile
Vitrified Tile is a tile is created by the Vitrification process. It is processed in ways that it has very low porosity making it stain-resistant and strong.Vitrified tile is an alternative to marble and granite flooring....
walls, a development used in later period American round barns. The Robert Weber Round Barn was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984.
History
The Robert Weber Round Barn was built in 1917 east of Durand, IllinoisDurand, Illinois
Durand is a village in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States. It is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area The population was 1,443 at the 2010 census, up from 1,081 at the 2000 census.- Geography :...
in Harrison Township
Harrison Township, Winnebago County, Illinois
Harrison Township is located in Winnebago County, Illinois. The population was 713 at the 2000 census.- External links :***...
along Illinois Route 75
Illinois Route 75
Illinois Route 75 is an east–west state road in north-central Illinois. It runs from downtown Freeport at Illinois Route 26 to WIS 67 at the Wisconsin state line southeast of Beloit, Wisconsin. This is a distance of .- Route description :...
. When the building was nominated for inclusion on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984 it was owned by Robert Weber.
Design
The barn building has a diameterDiameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints are on the circle. The diameters are the longest chords of the circle...
of 55 feet (16.8 m) and contains a central silo
Silo
A silo is a structure for storing bulk materials.Silo may also refer to:* Silo , a 3D modeling software* Silo , a defunct chain of retail electronics stores* SILO , used in Linux...
with a diameter of 24 feet (7.3 m). Both the barn and silo walls are constructed of brown, hollow vitrified tile
Tile
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
; each tile measures 1 foot (0.3048 m) by 4¾ inches. The Weber Round Barn was designed as a bank barn
Bank barn
A bank barn or banked barn is a style of barn noted for its accessibility, at ground level, on two separate levels. Often built into the side of a hill, or bank, both the upper and the lower floors area could be accessed from ground level, one area at the top of the hill and the other at the bottom...
, its loft is entered on the north side via an earthen ramp that leads to a metal framed door. Livestock entry is made on the west side of the barn through another metal framed door, in addition, all windows are metal framed.
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
is supported by braces on either side of every rafter
Rafter
A rafter is one of a series of sloped structural members , that extend from the ridge or hip to the downslope perimeter or eave, designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads.-Design:...
in a style promoted by the University of Illinois' Agricultural Experiment Station
Agricultural experiment station
An agricultural experiment station is a research center that conducts scientific investigations to solve problems and suggest improvements in the food and agriculture industry...
. The roof is covered in wooden shingle
Wood shingle
Wood shingles are roof shingles made of cut wood, used for roofing material. Such roofing material made from split wood is referred to as "shakes"....
s and capped by a small metal ventilator. The roof design and construction, by the Haas Brothers, connects it closely with round barns found in Stephenson County, Illinois
Stephenson County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,979 people, 19,785 households, and 13,473 families residing in the county. The population density was 87 people per square mile . There were 21,713 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
that feature Haas Brothers construction. The Weber Barn was the last in the Stephenson County area that the Haas Brothers worked on. The Weber Round Barn does differ from the barns in neighboring Stephenson County in its vitrified tile wall. This type of tile wall demonstrates an important period in the evolution of round barn design. Vitrified tile was preferred by builders during the final period of American round barn construction.
The Weber Round Barn stands out from other round barns, such as those in Stephenson County, as well. Compared to those barns, the Dennis Otte Round Barn, the Gerald Harbach Round Barn, James Bruce Round Barn, Chris Jensen Round Barn and the Charles Fehr Round Barn, the Weber Round Barn has an air of sophistication. This is due to its masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
walls, specially braced hip roof and metal framed windows and doors.
Significance
The Robert Weber Round Barn is one of 31 round barnRound barn
A round barn is a historic barn design that could be octagonal, polygonal, or circular in plan. Though round barns were not as popular as some other barn designs, their unique shape makes them noticeable. The years from 1880–1920 represent the height of round barn construction. Round barn...
s that were constructed in a four county area, the Stephenson County area, that includes Winnebago County
Winnebago County, Illinois
Winnebago County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 295,266, which is an increase of 6.1% from 278,418 in 2000...
, Stephenson County and Rock
Rock County, Wisconsin
-Unincorporated communities:-Further reading:* . Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908....
and Green
Green County, Wisconsin
Green County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 33,647. Its county seat is Monroe.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Counties in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. Twenty one of those barns are within Stephenson County, just west of the Weber Barn. The Weber Barn is also significant for its tile walls which demonstrate a later period round barn preference.
The Weber Round Barn was nominated for the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984 as part of the inaugural nomination through the Round Barns in Illinois Thematic Resources
Round Barns in Illinois Thematic Resources
Round Barns in Illinois Thematic Resources is the title of a Multiple Property Submission to the National Register of Historic Places in the U.S. state of Illinois. The submission consists of 18 Illinois round barns located throughout the state. The list had major additions in 1982 and 1984...
Multiple Property Submission. This means it met the criteria laid out beforehand for Illinois round barns. The building was listed on the National Register on February 2, 1984.
See also
- Charles Fehr Round BarnCharles Fehr Round BarnThe Charles Fehr Round Barn is a round barn in the U.S. state of Illinois near the Stephenson County village of Orangeville. The barn was built in 1912 by the team of Jeremiah Shaffer and the Haas Brothers about one half mile from the Illinois–Wisconsin state border. The building is the first...
- Dennis Otte Round BarnDennis Otte Round BarnThe Dennis Otte Round Barn is a round barn in the U.S. state of Illinois near the unincorporated Stephenson County community of Eleroy. The barn was built in 1930 by Herman Altenbern and has a diameter of 54 feet . The barn is representative of the last round barn design variations that evolved....
- Gerald Harbach Round BarnGerald Harbach Round BarnThe Gerald Harbach Round Barn is a round barn near Eleroy, an unincorporated community in Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The builder and designer of the building are unknown but it is very similar to round barns designed by the team of Jeremiah Shaffer and the Hass Brothers. It was...
- James Bruce Round BarnJames Bruce Round BarnThe James Bruce Round Barn is a round barn located near the Stephenson County, Illinois city of Freeport, United States. The barn was constructed in 1914 by the team of Jeremiah Shaffer and the Haas Brothers, who were responsible for at least a dozen round barns in the area...