PETERSON BARN ON IOWA BARN FOUNDATION TOUR

Eleanor Peterson's ancestors built this barn
in Butler County, Iowa, sometime in  the late 1800s.
(Click photo to enlarge)

A barn in Butler County, owned by Eleanor Peterson of Odebolt, was on the Iowa Barn Foundation's free, self-guided, all-state barn tour on September 19 and 20, 2009.

This barn has been a fixture on the Family Heritage Farm for many decades but not much is known about its earliest days. Peterson's great grandfather homesteaded the farm on May 2, 1854 and her grand-father owned the farm from 1862 until his death in 1905. It is most likely that the barn was constructed during those years. The barn's frame is post and beam, mortise and tenon wood peg construction and the original siding and roofing boards are attached with square nails which might date it to the late 1800s. The barn measures 115' by 30' and has a wooden silo inside.

During the past few years, work has continued in the restoration of the barn. With the exception of large projects including the reroofing, removing two non-original additions and installing a sliding door on the south side of the barn, Peterson's son Mike was responsible for a large share of the restoration. He replaced the majority of the windows and doors, cleaned out the molding straw and hay, helped with the exterior painting, repaired and painted two cupolas that were damaged in a wind storm and did an enormous amount of general cleaning and repairing of the barn.

During the weekend, Mike gave a guided tour of the two story barn to 110 people from 28 Iowa towns and one from Nebraska.

The Petersons appreciate the work the Iowa Barn Foundation does but decided not to apply for a grant and have used their own funds in the restoration. In April, 2009, the Petersons were given an Award of Distinction for their efforts.

From Mike Peterson

I spent a lot of the summer and most of September back in Iowa ..... most of it over at Mom's farm near Parkersburg, working on the barn restoration project for the fall Iowa Barn Tour held on Sept. 19th and 20th. The weather cooperated the whole time and the tour was a big success. We had over 100 visitors over the weekend. Mom was able to make it over there for the whole weekend and was in her element visiting with everyone.  I'll include a few pictures of the finished product.

Friends from that area: Mary Engelkes, Patrice Ewoldt, Steve and Mary Citta, Paul and Trish Ferguson, and Eleanor Peterson on the right. (Click photo to enlarge)

Interior - click photo to enlarge