Round Barns in Illinois Thematic Resources
Encyclopedia
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. In 1983, 1992 and 2003 one property was added to the submission and in 1994 a historic district
at the University of Illinois
, including three round barns, was added to the submission and the National Register of Historic Places
. The highest concentration of round barns on the submission occurs in Stephenson County
. Five Stephenson County round barns were added to the National Register on February 23, 1984.
in Henry County
. Three of the 1982 round barns have since been removed from the Register, most likely due to demolition or destruction, the John McCarthy Round Barn, the Clyde Leek Round Barn and the Clarence Forehand Round Barn were removed from the listing in December 1995. The other barns listed in 1982 were: the Raymond Schulz Round Barn
, Virginia Tillery Round Barn
, Clarence Kleinkopf Round Barn
and, in December, the Ron George Round Barn
in Will County
. The other three were added to the Register on August 26, 1982. An eighth round barn was determined eligible and nominated to the Register between December 1982 and February 1983 but the owner of the Willard White Round Barn in DeKalb County
, near Hinckley, objected to the nomination and the barn was not listed.
. The barn has been restored and relocated and is the latest addition to the Round Barn MPS. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 2003.
At the time of the 1984 addition to the Round Barn MPS Stephenson County, Illinois
had more round barns than any other county in the United States. Of the 31 round barns constructed in the four county area that makes up the Stephenson County area for the purpose of the MPS, 21 are found within the borders of Stephenson County. The other ten are spread out over Winnebago County, Illinois
, Green County, Wisconsin
and Rock County, Wisconsin
. The 21 barns in the county exceeds the 18 round barns in Vernon County, Wisconsin
and the 12 round barns in Fulton County, Indiana
.. On the original January 1984 nomination seven round barns were included in the Stephenson County area, of those six were added to the MPS and, thus, the National Register of Historic Places. As of 2007 five of the six round barns listed in 1984 are still on the Register. They are: 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 Robert Weber Round Barn
is in nearby Winnebago County.
near Mount Pulaski
, was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and the Round Barn MPS, on February 10, 1983. Its roof was damaged after a 1927 tornado and remained damaged until a $30,000 repair and restoration was undertaken in 1982. This round barn was built in 1917.
Part of the 1994 National Register of Historic Places listing for the University of Illinois Experimental Dairy Farm Historic District
includes three round barns. The barns were constructed every two years from 1908 thru 1912. The barns are known by the simple designations, Barn #1, Barn #2 and Building #857. Though all round barns, Building #857 includes a rectangular brick wing attached to main round section of the building.
is the only round barn listed on the National Register of Historic Places located in Cook County
. The barn was added to both the Round Barn MPS and the Register in 1992.
at the University of Illinois, played a key role in promoting and popularizing the round barn design. The three round barns that are now part of the historic district at the experiment station helped influence Illinoisians and, in turn, other Midwesterners, to build round barns. In the case of the Raymond Schulz Round Barn, near Pontiac, Illinois, it was constructed specifically because its owner had viewed the round barns at the university.
The round barn was the last of five types of American barns to be built by carpenter
s, the others being the Dutch
, English
, connected and Pennsylvania barn
s. Collectively, they represent the foray of science into the field of agriculture.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The submission consists of 18 Illinois round barns located throughout the state. The list had major additions in 1982 and 1984. In 1983, 1992 and 2003 one property was added to the submission and in 1994 a historic district
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
at the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, including three round barns, was added to the submission and the 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...
. The highest concentration of round barns on the submission occurs in Stephenson County
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...
. Five Stephenson County round barns were added to the National Register on February 23, 1984.
Original submission
Seven round barns were added to the National Register per the original MPS in 1982. At the time just one other Illinois round barn was listed on the Register, the Ryan Round BarnRyan Round Barn
The Ryan Round Barn was the first round barn in the U.S. state of Illinois listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it joined that list on New Year's Eve 1974. Though it is, indeed, a round barn, the Ryan Round Barn is not part of the round barns Multiple Property Submission for Illinois...
in Henry County
Henry County, Illinois
Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,486, which is a decrease of 1.0% from 51,020 in 2000. Its county seat is Cambridge...
. Three of the 1982 round barns have since been removed from the Register, most likely due to demolition or destruction, the John McCarthy Round Barn, the Clyde Leek Round Barn and the Clarence Forehand Round Barn were removed from the listing in December 1995. The other barns listed in 1982 were: the Raymond Schulz Round Barn
Raymond Schulz Round Barn
The Raymond Schulz Round Barn is a round barn in the U.S. state of Illinois. The barn was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on August 26, 1982 as part of the original Multiple Property Submission, Round Barns in Illinois Thematic Resources...
, Virginia Tillery Round Barn
Virginia Tillery Round Barn
The Virginia Tillery Round Barn is a round barn listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in the state of Illinois. It was listed on August 26, 1982 with six other Illinois round barns as part of the Round Barns in Illinois original Multiple Property Submission ....
, Clarence Kleinkopf Round Barn
Clarence Kleinkopf Round Barn
The Clarence Kleinkopf Round Barn is a round barn in McDonough County, Illinois. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Kleinkopf Barn is one of the original round barns submitted to the Register as part of the Multiple Property Submission, Round Barns in Illinois....
and, in December, the Ron George Round Barn
Ron George Round Barn
Ron George Round Barn is a round barn northeast of the U.S. village of Romeoville, Illinois. Wilbur J. Fraser, who designed most of the round barns in Illinois, encouraged his brother-in-law Ron George to construct such a barn. George was living in the nearby settlement of Plainfield at the time....
in Will County
Will County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...
. The other three were added to the Register on August 26, 1982. An eighth round barn was determined eligible and nominated to the Register between December 1982 and February 1983 but the owner of the Willard White Round Barn in DeKalb County
DeKalb County, Illinois
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 105,160, which is an increase of 18.2% from 88,969 in 2000. Its county seat is Sycamore. DeKalb County is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area.-History:DeKalb County...
, near Hinckley, objected to the nomination and the barn was not listed.
Lewis Round Barn
The Lewis Round Barn is located in Mendon, IllinoisMendon, Illinois
Mendon is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 883 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Mendon is located at ....
. The barn has been restored and relocated and is the latest addition to the Round Barn MPS. It was added to the 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 2003.
Stephenson County area
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...
had more round barns than any other county in the United States. Of the 31 round barns constructed in the four county area that makes up the Stephenson County area for the purpose of the MPS, 21 are found within the borders of Stephenson County. The other ten are spread out over Winnebago County, Illinois
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...
, Green County, Wisconsin
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...
and Rock County, Wisconsin
Rock County, Wisconsin
-Unincorporated communities:-Further reading:* . Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908....
. The 21 barns in the county exceeds the 18 round barns in Vernon County, Wisconsin
Vernon County, Wisconsin
Vernon County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2009, the population estimate was 29,324. Its county seat is Viroqua.-History:...
and the 12 round barns in Fulton County, Indiana
Fulton County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,511 people, 8,082 households, and 5,738 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 9,123 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
.. On the original January 1984 nomination seven round barns were included in the Stephenson County area, of those six were added to the MPS and, thus, the National Register of Historic Places. As of 2007 five of the six round barns listed in 1984 are still on the Register. They are: the Dennis Otte Round Barn
Dennis Otte Round Barn
The 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....
, the Gerald Harbach Round Barn
Gerald Harbach Round Barn
The 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 Barn
James Bruce Round Barn
The 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...
, Chris Jensen Round Barn and the Charles Fehr Round Barn
Charles Fehr Round Barn
The 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...
. The Robert Weber Round Barn
Robert Weber Round Barn
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 in...
is in nearby Winnebago County.
Robert Buckles barn
The Buckles Round Barn, located in Logan CountyLogan County, Illinois
Logan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 30,305, which is a decrease of 2.8% from 31,183 in 2000...
near Mount Pulaski
Mount Pulaski, Illinois
Mount Pulaski is a city in Logan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,701 at the 2000 census, and 1,577 at a 2009 estimate. It is the home of the Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site...
, was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and the Round Barn MPS, on February 10, 1983. Its roof was damaged after a 1927 tornado and remained damaged until a $30,000 repair and restoration was undertaken in 1982. This round barn was built in 1917.
University of Illinois
Part of the 1994 National Register of Historic Places listing for the University of Illinois Experimental Dairy Farm Historic District
University of Illinois Experimental Dairy Farm Historic District
The University of Illinois Experimental Dairy Farm Historic District, also known as South Farm, is a designated historic district in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located on the campus of the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. The district consists of eight contributing structures and...
includes three round barns. The barns were constructed every two years from 1908 thru 1912. The barns are known by the simple designations, Barn #1, Barn #2 and Building #857. Though all round barns, Building #857 includes a rectangular brick wing attached to main round section of the building.
Wheeler-Magnus Round Barn
The Wheeler-Magnus Round BarnWheeler-Magnus Round Barn
The Wheeler-Magnus Round Barn is located in the Cook County city of Arlington Heights in the U.S. state of Illinois. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 when it joined the Round Barns in Illinois Multiple Property Submission . It is the only round barn in Cook County...
is the only round barn listed on the National Register of Historic Places located in Cook County
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
. The barn was added to both the Round Barn MPS and the Register in 1992.
Other Illinois round barns
There are, certainly, dozens of additional round barns standing throughout Illinois. Of the round barns listed on the National Register of Historic Places just one was listed before the development of the MPS, the Ryan Round Barn north of Kewanee.Significance
Illinois, as home to the Agricultural Experiment StationAgricultural 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...
at the University of Illinois, played a key role in promoting and popularizing the round barn design. The three round barns that are now part of the historic district at the experiment station helped influence Illinoisians and, in turn, other Midwesterners, to build round barns. In the case of the Raymond Schulz Round Barn, near Pontiac, Illinois, it was constructed specifically because its owner had viewed the round barns at the university.
The round barn was the last of five types of American barns to be built by carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
s, the others being the Dutch
Dutch barn
Dutch barn is the name given to markedly different types of barns in the United States and Canada, and in the United Kingdom. In the United States, Dutch barns represent the oldest and rarest types of barns. There are relatively few—probably less than 600—of these barns still intact...
, English
English barn
The English barn, or three bay barn, is a barn style that was most popular in the northeast region of the United States. New barns in this style were constructed for over a century, from the 1770s through the 1900s.-Design:...
, connected and Pennsylvania barn
Pennsylvania barn
A Pennsylvania barn is a type of banked barn built in the United States from about 1820 - 1900. The style's most distinguishing feature is the presence of an overshoot or forebay, an area where the barn overshoots its foundation. These barns were banked, that is set into a hillside to ensure easy...
s. Collectively, they represent the foray of science into the field of agriculture.