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Nebraska's Barn History General Barn History Barns originally served as farm factories, places of business and storehouses for equipment and supplies. Farmers threshed grain on barn floors, stored hay for feeding livestock in the lofts, and sheltered animals in the stalls. The barn was also the heart of the
farm and a vital center of community life. It was a To farmers, barns were as essential as the houses they lived in. To many of us, barns represent tradition, hard work and independence. These associations are just as much a part of the barn as its framework and its roofing. The barn remains a powerful symbol, even as it disappears from the American landscape. A variety of barn types can be found in North America. Barns are the result of a fusion of ideas from different cultures. Immigrants brought diverse barn designs and construction techniques with them. In time, most farmers and builders adapted their barns in response to other immigrants' barns, as well as to the conditions such as climate, geography, available building materials and changes in agricultural practice. It is hard to find a pure barn type. Regional styles can be distinctive, but don't be surprised to find a "regional" barn type where you don't expect it. The Midwest Barn Also known as the feeder, prairie or Western barn, this barn was built primarily to shelter livestock. Its long, wide roof also provided enormous storage space for hay and feed. The Midwest barn may have been brought to North America by German settlers. This type of barn was most common in the south-central and western United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Historic Nebraska Barns
The Elijah Filley Stone Barn,
built in 1874, was formerly a part of Elijah
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Barns
of Nebraska's Ethnic Communities
By Susan M. Juza
As the Great Plains opened up for settlement in the 1800s, many pioneers took advantage of the rich, fertile soil of Nebraska. These settlers, many with strong European ties, created a melting pot within the new state. The new waves of immigrants consisted mainly of Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Germans, Czechs, Polish, Dutch, English, Italians and Irish. These groups of people created ethnic communities where they could retain the culture of the "old country." Many of the newcomers' livelihoods revolved around agriculture. Homes were built for the families, and barns were built for multiple reasons. These homes and barns dot the Nebraska landscape today, and if they could speak, they would tell many tales. The purpose of this exhibit is to examine closely the unique purpose and characteristics that barns had in some ethnic communities of Nebraska. In Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, barns are usually attached to the main living quarters with doors connecting the series of buildings for ease and comfort. In Scandinavia, barns were either attached or separate from the main living quarters. The construction material depended on what was available -- timber, stone or clay. It did not take long for the new Americans to adapt styles for their barns that were unique to their new homeland. Originally, the English favored a large structure built on four corner corncribs, with a wagon-way through the center, forming a cross. The upper part was used for hay storage. This style could be found in the eastern states, but as pioneers settled on the Plains, new barn designs were adapted by most ethnic groups. German The Germans would comprise the largest ethnic group to settle in Nebraska from 1854-1894. They began to immigrate to the United States in 1830, due to the end of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. Certain counties in Nebraska became home to many Germans; in 1870, Pierce County was 90 percent German. Germans also settled in Cedar, Wayne, Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Platte and Dodge counties.
In old stone barns, Germans designed slits in the walls of the barn, and some decorated the wooden barns with attractive cutouts. Hearts, stars and tulips were some designs used to help ventilate the loft while admitting some light. These decorations indicated a European influence. Swedish By 1860, a considerable number of Swedes lived in Omaha. They broadened their territory when Rev. S.G. Larson helped the Swedes to settle in various communities in Saunders County. Swedish communities also developed along Logan Creek, located in the southeast corner of Knox County. One town, Wausa, was named in honor of the Swedish king, Gustavus Vasa. Other communities as far north as Dixon County and Oakland, the Swedish Capital of Nebraska, located in Burt County, have a rich Swedish heritage. In Sweden, barns would either be attached or separate from the family dwelling and built from abundant logs. The structure, built in a rectangular shape, had steep roofs to take thatching, and usually had low sides and horizontal sidings. Upon visiting the Swedish community of Oakland, it was discovered that many barns were built in this fashion, with the variation of a shingled roof.
Peter Anderson immigrated to the United States from Sweden and purchased a 160-acre farm in Wakefield township, Dixon County, in 1884. After the house was built, a large unique gabled roof barn was built in 1918. The sides were built low to the ground, which usually indicates a strong European tie. Dutch In southern Lancaster County, the small town of Holland stands remotely with the town's welcome sign proudly displaying the Dutch heritage. Dutch genealogy can be a confusing topic, as people of the Netherlands are an ethnic combination of German, French, Swiss and English. The name Dutch could possibly be derived from the German word "Deutsch," which means German. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the English referred to the people of the Netherlands as the Low Dutch (Low German) or High Dutch (High German) depending on the geographic location of the people. Many Germans from the Netherlands immigrated to the United States and became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch. This term was used many times while visiting the residents of Holland, Nebraska.
Czech The Bohemians (Czechs) began to settle in Nebraska in 1856. Largely an agricultural group, this Slavic group fled their country in pursuit of land and religious freedom. They settled primarily in Douglas, Colfax, Saline, Saunders and Butler counties, creating the towns of Wilber, Crete, Clarkson, Schuyler and Prague, to name a few. One of the Czechs' legacies has been the introduction of the Sokol (Falcon) club.
Another interesting charateristic of the barns in the Wilber area were that the sides were often covered with tin. While visiting with some local people, it was learned that the tin was an inexpensive way to cover the disintegrating wood siding. Norwegian Various other ethnic groups appear in the history of Nebraska. Norwegians settled in Furnas and Gosper counties. Danish
Polish Approximately 20 miles northwest of Dannebrog lies the Polish capital of Nebraska, Loup City. In this area, barns were structured larger with a gabled roof, not built of limestone or tile, but lumber. A barn, located on Robert Harrington's property, has a one- to two-foot cement foundation supporting the red wooden walls. Irish The Irish also have left their imprint on Nebraska, settling primarily in the north and extending to the western border. General John O'Neill, founder of O'Neill, Nebraska, was born in Ireland in 1834. After immigrating to American, he became a U.S. Army officer from 1857 to 1864. For a few years, he became active in the Fenians, an American group promoting Irish independence. It became his desire to relocate Irish immigrants to agrarian colonies in the West, and Holt County, Nebraska, was one such place. Irish colonists arrived between May 1874 and 1877. John O'Neill died in 1877. Others Holt County has a variety of barns, constructed out of wood, rock or a combination, some with gabled and gambrel roofs. Although the Irish comprised the largest ethnic group in O'Neill, others were present, all working together to construct barns for farming families. One barn, located on the property of Albert Widtfeldt, was constructed from 1903-1904 by his great-grandfather, Carl Vequist of Sweden. Widtfeldt stated that the barn was raised with the assistance of Irish neighbors, and two accomplished stonemasons from Michigan. The masons had moved to O'Neill from Michigan by the means of bicycles. Together, family and friends built the gabled roof rock and lime barn into a hill, large enough to house horses in the lower level and store grain in the second level. Today the barn still stands, modified somewhat from the original plan, and repaired with cement to replace the crumbling lime. Chappell, Nebraska, founded in the late 1880s, received its name from Charles Henry Chappell. It was only on Sept. 10, 1907, that the town became incorporated. Near this town comprised of a variety of ethnic groups, stand limestone barns constructed with limestone from the hills between Lodgepole Creek and the Platte River. One such barn built by Swedish immigrant Alfred Lingren and friends and relatives used limestone from near the site to build the one-foot-thick walls, creating a 40-by-80-foot structure. The first level built of limestone was built to house livestock, while the second, built of wood, stored grain. The original lumber cost about $1,000. On the peak of the gambrel roof sits two cupolas. The barn, built in 1903, stands today. Round barns A person driving through Nebraska may come across one of the few remaining round barns. Although this design is not specifically tied to an ethnic group, they are a part of the Nebraska landscape, and a short explanation should be given. The round barn possibly could have religious affiliations. In the 1800s, the association between the farmer and church flourished. Shakers, Quakers and Holy Rollers all farmed for perfection, and the circle became a theme. These groups took delight in round hats and rugs, so why not a barn? It was believed that a round barn could "keep the devil from hiding in the corners." The first round barn was possibly built in 1826 in Hancock, Mass. The appealing design caught on in Nebraska, and over 40 round barns graced the landscape at one time. In 1911-1912, John D. Nichols and his nephew, William Nichols, constructed a round barn in Butler County, west of David City. Nichols devised plans for the construction of the barn after he viewed one near Lincoln. Being a hay farmer, Nichols wanted to construct a barn that would hold large quantities of hay. When completed, the barn could hold 200 tons of hay in the loft during the winter months. The hay was transported to the loft with a pulley system, eliminating the need for farmers to pitch hay to the top. Horse stalls were constructed in the mail level, with a central drive-through separating the rows. In the spring, when the loft was emptied of hay, the Nichols family would throw a community barn dance, enlisting the services of an orchestra from Omaha or Lincoln. Eda Nichols also utilized the loft for her church society. The 16-sided barn with 14 windows in the cupola has recently been painted red from the original white. A smaller round barn used for hogs sits near the larger barn and remains the original color. Barns, all shapes, sizes and colors, create an interesting part of the heritage in Nebraska. In many respects, the barn has lost its role on the farm, and old barns are being destroyed rather than being repaired. Larger barns constructed of steel to shelter farm machinery have taken the place of the smaller barns, which sheltered grain or livestock. With the destruction of the barn, a focal point of rural life and entertainment is disapearing from the prairie landscape. Susan M. Juza, project historian, has a master's degree in history and is on the staff of the College of St. Mary in Omaha. While working as curator at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park in Fort Calhoun, Neb., she conducted four years of research on Fort Atkinson, with visits to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and several state historical societies. She then researched ethnic barns of Nebraska for about three months, beginning in January 2001. Highlights of her barn research are published in a free brochure that identifies and locates the barns depicted. The brochure is available as the exhibit tours the state along with the "Barn Again!" exhibit. |
place for dancing, praying, playing and courting.
The Uehling Barn is located
on a hill overlooking the town of Uehling. The
prominence of the structure and its location have made it a local landmark
since it was built in 1918. The wood-frame barn is one of a small number
of "round" barns in Nebraska. Its builder, Frank Theodore Uehling, was
the son of Theodore and Catherine Schwab Uehling, emigrants from Germany.
Theodore platted the town of Uehling in 1906. After attending the University
of Nebraska College of Agriculture, Frank Uehling established a stock farm,
which became a model and the center of pure-bred livestock raising in Dodge
County.
Filley's Cottage Hill Farm, established in 1867 when Filley and his wife,
Emily, located near the town of Filley in Gage County. The three-story
limestone structure is one of the most magnificent barns in the state.
Important for its size and structural qualities, the barn is also an excellent
example of a bank barn (a barn built into a hillside), a type whose use
was compatible with the topography of southeastern Nebraska. Filley became
a leading farmer and stock raiser. In 1924 he was inducted into the Nebraska
Hall of Agricultural Achievement.
When constructing the barn, the Germans
adopted the English
style. However, they modified this form to include an overhung loft and
the gambrel style roof, the word gambrel being derived from the hock of
a horse's leg. In most barns, you will find one or two gambrels for the
purpose of hanging carcasses at butchering time. The gambrel roof slants
sharply in two slightly different pitches. This is a convenient design
as it allows the rain and snow to drain off. A similar style roof is called
the Gothic, or rainbow, roof that is curved in a half circle. Construction
costs are higher for this style, but it appeals more to the eye. Both styles
also allow for greater room in the loft area, a much-needed characteristic
when the area is used for storing hay.
In 1890, J.M. Peterson purchased land
from C.P. Dewey near
Oakland. Dewey had purchased the land one year earlier from the United
States. It was Peterson, however, that built the house shortly after his
land purchase, the barn being constructed by 1912. The barn, a rectangular
structure with a lean-to in the rear protected with a gable roof, has a
resemblance to the older barns located in Sweden today. The barn consists
of a haymow on the top, while the horses were housed on the ground level.
The barn was strictly used for farming purposes. Elsie Sebberson, a descendant
of the Peterson family, currently owns the barn.
The Swedish community of Stromsburg
embraced a different style
of barn. The Swedes in this area built rectangular shaped structures with
one shorter side. The gabled roof is used frequently for smaller structures,
and has a pitched style which can become inverted when it covers and addition
on one or both sides.
The barns in the Holland area, often
used for small dairy herds,
were structured after the Dutch barn. Again, with a rectangular base, many
barns included an addition with the roof forming two symmetrical slopes,
one on each side of the ridge. This style barn is usually constructed of
wood and is always wider than it is long. The Dutch barn was most prevalent
in the Holland area, but as one traveled in a southwest direction, the
barns changed drastically, as if to announce the entrance to Saline County
and a new ethnic heritage.
Traveling through Butler County, there
was little evidence of barns
that had any characteristics tied to the Czech ethnic community. In fact,
there were few old barns in existence. The story is different for the person
traveling in Saline County, the home of the Czech capital, Wilber. In Saline
County, the barns are separate from the main dwelling, and the structure
takes the form known as a "gable on hip." This is best described as a base
structure, with "lean-tos" on three sides.
Danes settled Howard County in 1871
in the area of St. Paul and
Dannebrog north of Grand Island. Lars Hannibal and six countrymen helped
establish the post office in Dannebrog in 1872, with the number soon growing
to 2,400 Danes. Again the barn style consisted of a rectangular base, but
uniquely structured from tile. The gabled roof line on top of the bright
red structure appeared cheerful and was quite attention-getting. These
barns appeared to be smaller than other barns.
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