Four Allamakee County barns to be included in Iowa Barn Foundation's 2012 All-State Barn Tour

Historic, restored barns throughout Iowa will be opened to the public during the Iowa Barn Foundation’s free, two-day, self-guided, All-State Barn Tour Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. each day. To avoid conflicts with harvest, the tour is earlier this year.
Most barns on the tour have been restored with matching grants from the Iowa Barn Foundation. Other property owners received awards of distinction from the foundation for restorations they undertook themselves.
The Iowa Barn Foundation, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, raises money from individuals, foundations and corporations to give matching grants to property owners to restore their barns. The barns must be restored as closely as possible to original. The property owner must also sign a perpetual easement when receiving a grant.
The purpose of the tour is to encourage barn preservation in the state, to teach young people about Iowa’s rich agricultural heritage, and to renew pride in this unique heritage. Owners will discuss the barns and their histories at many stops. Visitors are expected from around the country. The effort has encouraged barn preservation throughout Iowa and beyond.
The tour is free, although donations to support the foundation’s work are appreciated. For more information or questions, e-mail Jolene Witt, All-State Barn Tour Coordinator, at jowitt@gmtel.net.

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY BARNS ON THE TOUR
A total of four barns located in Allamakee County will be featured on this year's All-State Barn Tour. All four of the barns were built in the late 1800s to early 1900s, either already reaching or quickly approaching their 100th year of existence. Those Allamakee County barns include the following:
Chimney Rock barn on Chimney Rock Ranch,  1245 Chimney Rock Road, Waterville. Directions: From stop light in Waukon, travel east on Elon Road (A52) about seven miles to Chimney Rock Road - T intersection. Turn right onto Chimney Rock Road and travel south. The larger part of the building is a corn crib, granary, hog barn and machine shed and was built in two parts in 1907-08. The corncrib/granary also has a basement for hogs. The second, smaller part was added to the north end of the original building later that year or the next year.

Dougherty barn is located at 1362 Pole Line Road, Waukon. Directions: Connect with Highway 9 south of Waukon and travel Highway 9 about six miles west to its intersection with Pole Line Road. Turn right and go three miles north. The barn was built around 1900 and has a redwood silo inside. The 50'x 70' barn has a limestone foundation.

Kruger barn is located at 310 Northline Drive, Waukon. From Waukon, go west five miles on Highway 9 to its intersection with Highway 51 and Apple Road. Take a right on Apple Road (gravel) and go one mile north to Northline Drive. Take a right. Farm is first on the left.  The large dairy barn was built in 1915 and has been in the Kruger family for 50 years.
Marlow-Saak barn is located at 1431 Pole Line Road, Waukon. Directions: Connect with Highway 9 south of Waukon and travel Highway 9 about six miles west to its intersection with Pole Line Road. Turn north and go across old Highway 9 onto the gravel (still Pole Line Road). The barn is located on the first farm on right. The barn, built in the 1890s, is 70'x40'. The Saak family names are viewable on the barn's interior. “As an immigrant from England and recent American citizen, I have come to realize Midwestern barns are like the churches and cathedrals of Europe in scale and importance to the landscape,” wrote the owner.

OTHER NORTHEAST IOWA BARNS ON THIS YEAR'S TOUR
Lea-Oakley barn, 2279 County Road W42, Decorah (Winneshiek County). Native limestone Norwegian barn was built by John Johnson in 1862. Original materials are intact. Barn has a gambrel roof with wooden shingles that was probably added at a later date.  Original roof would have been a gable roof.
Boeding stone milk house,  2390 Madison Road, Decorah (Winneshiek County). From intersection of Highways 9 and 52 southwest of Decorah, go north on Highway 52 for 0.8 miles to Madison Road. Turn left and go 2.2 miles to 2390 Madison Road. (Award of Distinction winner)

Gribble barn,  3109 155th Street, Ft. Atkinson (Winneshiek County). From New Hampton, take Highway 24 east for 19 miles to 295th Avenue. Take a left and drive 2.5 miles to 155th Street. Turn left and go 1.5 miles. Czech barn on lovely farm has always been in family. This barn was featured in a New York Times article June 1, 2012.

Ellingson barn, 19987 Timber Avenue, Cresco (Howard County). Barn can be seen from Dr. Borlaug’s farm, half a mile away. The family farm has been beautifully restored.

Palmer barn, 1206 150th Street, Castalia (Winneshiek County). From Decorah intersection of Highways 9 and 52, go east on Highway 9 for 5.8 miles to Centennial Road. Turn right on Centennial and go 8.4 miles (Centennial becomes W46). Turn left on 150th Street. Go 1.7 miles to Palmer barn.  Rock is from nearby quarry using teams and wagons. Framing of barn was oak harvested from own woodlands. Portable sawmill was brought to saw logs. Some 200-300 men came for a one-day barn raising; each man given a new hammer.

Hinzenbrock barn, 1477 Norske Road, Decorah (Winneshiek County). From Decorah, take Highway 9 six miles east to the second entrance to Oilville Road. Turn left and go one-half mile to the first gravel road, Norske Road. Turn right and go one-half mile to farm.  Pegged barn (36'x70') was built into a hill in 1878 by Peder Bakke, an original Norwegian settler in the county. Barn retains original wooden hay drop for loose hay and has unusual double support rafters. There are hand-hewn timbers, and pegs are in the same condition as when they were made.

Hotvedt barn, 1996 County Road A14, west of Hesper on the state line (Winneshiek County). John McMullens bought farm from government in 1852 for $1.25 an acre. Nearby Mabel, MN’s Steam Engine Days started on the farm.

Dighton barn, 3344 120th Avenue, Coggon (Delaware County). Take paved road going west out of town for one mile to Quality Ridge Road. Turn north for 1.5 mile. Round barn on National Register was built in 1914 by Rob Kirkpatrick, grandfather of owner. It is intricate. (Adopt-a-Barn Award winner)

Blazek barn, 1755 Ridgeway Boulevard, Lawler (Chickasaw County). Turn off Highway 24 into Lawler. Go north through Lawler to V46. Follow V46 three miles to farm. Distinguished large barn had a drive-through center where teams of horses pulled and unloaded full loads of hay.  Barn dances were held in mow in early 1900s.

Geschke barn, 1744 McCloud, New Hampton (Chickasaw County). Go two miles north of New Hampton on U.S. 63 (mile marker #207). Barn, on a hill on U.S. 63, was built in the 1940s.

Buckley barn, 12178 200th Street, Elma (Howard County). From Elma take 272 east to U.S. 63 and turn south for one mile. Turn west and go two miles to 200th Street. Barn was built in 1915 on land given to family by President James Buchanan.