Amish farmers near Kalona, Iowa looked to replace a family's barn in the 1990s. When my in-laws were selling their farm properties near Cedar Rapids, Iowa a deal was struck. The Amish would hire a driver, vans and wagons, come some 40 miles north, tear down the barn and reassemble it a few miles northeast of Kalona. The tear down phase took just a few days and involved a small army of Amish men. They drew a schematic of the barn, labeled everything (in pencil) including the oak pegs that held wooden beams together. Today the barn (center in photo,) originally built in 1916 by a relative, sits on a rise overlooking corn and hay fields. The new owners who have had the barn now for around 15 years have improved the structure by adding a new roof and updating some of the side walls. Hundred year old barns don't always come on the market. In fact the Amish are currently building a new barn just right of the photo on a neighbor's property.
Amazing that they took it down and moved it. I would have loved to see that.
ReplyDeletewow, what an effort that must have taken. those amish are amazing!
ReplyDeleteWow it took them days to put down a huge barn. They are really a good worker and marking it one by one is a task too. Love these shot thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteKim,USA
What an amazing story! It looks as if it has been there forever. Glad the barn was saved!
ReplyDeleteWonderful story! Looks like that barn has settled into its new home quite nicely.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! I'm so glad to hear this story. Our throw-away-and-get-new world should take this to heart.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing story! What a job it must have been to move it!
ReplyDeleteI love that the building was dismantled and moved. It still happens, but not nearly as much as in the days gone by.
ReplyDeleteI also love how the Amish come together for communtiy events like barn raisings and other such things (as pioneers often did). That would be a lovely way to live, neighbor helping neighbor. Great shot of the buildings. :-)
Noteworthy Musings - Barn Charm #94
It's great to hear that some old barns are still being saved by taking them down and moving them. It looks like it has always been there.
ReplyDelete