Storing the Crops, Livestock and Machinery

Storing the Crops, Livestock and Machinery. They Lived Long on the Land. , Most of the farm buildings that provided storage for the crops and livestock on the Piatt farm have disappeared from the landscape. The original 1840 barn, located near the family's first home was used to store 60 plus tons of hay, more than 400 bushels of small grain prior to threshing, and the corn fodder. Associated corn sheds held thousands of bushels of corn prior to shelling and grinding. , , The small barn still standing behind Mac-A-Cheek Castle was built in the late 19th century and contained storage space for corn, cows, and machines. Only a portion of that barn remains. Plans are underway to transform it into an exhibit on agricultural history. , , "The principal of the township is grain, though a number of farmers pay considerable attention to stock with good results." , History of Logan County, 1880 , , The Piatt family land was well suite for growing Kentucky blue grass for grazing. Unlike other area farmers who let their cattle and swine graze in fields of standing corn, Abram Piatt progressively advocated stall feeding as the final stage of fattening before sending livestock to market. , , "March 5th, 1918 Bought of Zachary Holstein calf 5 days old. Started buying skim milk of Mrs. Enoch Friday March 29, 1918 about 1/2 gal. a day. , , Nov. 5th 1917 Monday Bertie bought from Mrs. Smith 1 with Orphangton rooster and 5 "pullets" and 1 hen for $5.00. We had at the time 1 white Orphangton hen and 4 white pullets (leghorn + Plymouth rock) mixed which we raised from the chickens Bertie bought in the spring of Smucker sisters and Mr. Kaufman, 12 in all. , , 1917-first eggs Nov. 22-used first two eggs for making of mother Piatt's 50th wedding anniversary cake Nov. 26." , Katherine Sullivan Piatt, "Chicken Diary," 1918 , , The arrival of rail transportation in the mid-19th century made it easier to transport bulk grain and flour, and area farmers began to concentrate more heavily on grain production. Hogs and cattle for fattening continued to be the focus of many farmers, though sheep and dairy production declined. However, many farmers continued to raise cows and chickens for their home use and to provide a small surplus for cash sale. These practices helped farm families like the Piatts who struggled to make a living on the land in the early 20th century. Today most agricultural land in Logan and Champaign counties is used for raising corn and soybeans and very little is used for pasturing or grazing livestock. , , Like many families, the Piatts turned to other occupations to supplement their farm income. After World War II, their farming operation decreased as tourism increased. They eventually stopped keeping any animals and removed the milk house and the section of their barn once used for storage. The cement outbuildings of a garage-shop and public rest rooms added in the 1960's reflect a changing life style and occupational emphasis.