South of Mendon, Ill., on Highway 336 near the Adams County Fairgrounds, the Adams County Olde Tyme Assoc. has restored the beautiful Lewis Round Barn that the Lewis family donated to it, and has turned it into an agricultural museum. Collectors will be excited to learn that on June 10 from 1-5 p.m., antique tractors will be on-site along with a farm toy exhibit. They will show a video presentation of square dancing tractors and have a “What Is It?” display. Jeanne Lubbe, who has been with the association for 10 years, said the round barn was built by Charles E. Lewis in 1914 near Camp Point, Ill. History from George Lewis states that the barn was built on the “Grove Place,” an estate his father had purchased. “He had lumber mills set up to cut the lumber and had crews set it up,” Jeanne explained. George’s history said during the fall and winter of 1911, the logs were worked up into dimensional lumber and then carefully piled to air-dry. Jeanne told how the idea for this amazing barn came about: “He had the idea because he had a son that was a student at the University of Illinois where they had a round barn, and he wanted to be the first in the area to build one.” Charles knew of three experimental barns built around 1900 and he needed a large barn for his 200 beef cattle and hogs. He hired Lambert Huber, a contractor of German descent, to build the barn for him. “It gave him new challenges,” she added. “They built it using oak for the beams and Douglas fir for the silo that was shipped from Louisiana.” Each board used in the silo was 40 feet long, which was a challenge; the fir had to be shipped upriver, then transported by oxcart. The silo stands 18 feet in diameter and 40 feet high. According to the Lewis Round Barn Museum brochure: “It was the longest last and best kept silage of any structure known up to that time and many years thereafter.” The George Lewis history states that although Huber successfully completed this beautiful round barn, he was heard to say he would never complete another! To get the 10-foot-high cupola that covered the top ring in place, they used Charles’ favorite horse, Old Kit, along with a series of ropes and pulleys to lift it. The barn was used for many years. The barn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and the Lewis family decided to donate it to the Adams County Olde Tyme Assoc. “We got a grant for $150,000 from the state of Illinois, and hired the Amish and they moved it in 2000,” Jeanne explained. “When they moved the silo they got a lo-boy and laid it down. They braced both ends, but it started to collapse. They had to stop and brace it in the middle.” Today the barn has become a museum and downstairs contains an extensive agricultural collection with antique turn-of-the-century farm machinery and tools. Organizers have added steps so that visitors can climb to the upstairs and see exhibits dedicated to farm women. Exhibits include rooms of the house and a grocery store. “We set the time period in the 1930s and 1940s,” Jeannie explained. Visitors who come to see the barn will also see a log cabin, print shop and one-room school. The museum is open the second Sunday of each month from 1-5 p.m., May through October. Private tours can be arranged. For appointments or details, call Jeanne at 217-222-0412. More information about the Adams County Olde Tyme Assoc. can be obtained by writing to Willie Venverthloh, 4616 North 18th St., Quincy, IL 62305, or by calling 217-222-8130. Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication. Learn more of Cindy’s finds and travel in her blog, “Traveling Adventures of a Farm Girl,” at http://travelingadventuresofafarmgirl.com |
