Granary & Hay Barn

Granary and Hay Barn. . The granary had a unique use and function on the farm and therefore had a unique design. The structural framing members are on the outside of the barn and are heavy to withstand the weight of the grain. The sheating or planks of the barn were on the inside of the barn and incorporated into the grain bins. The granary was elevated off of the ground to prevent ground moisture from spoiling the grain. Inside, four large bins held such grains as wheat, oats and barley., At harvesting time, the family rented one of the two threshing machines in the community to cut their grain and to separate the usable grain kernels from the chaff. They hired extra farmhands, and either brought in a cook wagon or set up a temporary kitchen to feed all the workers during the harvest., A large 25' x 50' hay barn once stood about 30' north of the granary. The open stick framed barn was flanked by lean-to barns on the east and west. The east barn housed the horses and sheep and opened out to a pasture. The west barn housed the milk cows. The hay and horse barns were destroyed in the early 1940's and not rebuilt. The cow barn survived for a few years and then was destroyed.