Eclectic Collection: Antique Farm Relics Find Two Unique Homes
Vintage farm pieces reside in a 68-foot round barn and a former hardware store
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Marvin Bules' round barn he built with just less than 52,000 bricks in 2004, which houses part of his collection of antique farm machinery and memorabilia.
Eugene Blake
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“Unique” is an overused adjective, but it certainly applies to Marvin Bules’ collection of farm tools and equipment – and to the way he displays his collection.
Most of the relics are stored in an old building that formerly housed a hardware store Marvin once operated in Pond Creek, Okla. The remainder – mostly larger items – is on display in a round barn he built in 2004.
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The round barn is a story in itself. One of just a few round barns in the state, it measures 68 feet in diameter and 53 feet high. “I ordered 52,000 bricks to construct the 18-foot walls,” Marvin says, “and only 100 were left over.” From the 12-foot-diameter cupola, you can see where the Chisholm Trail crossed the Salt Fork Arkansas River just 100 yards from the barn.
The ground floor holds Marvin’s collection of antique cars, tractors and farm machinery – even two Volkswagens that belonged to his late wife. A spiral staircase rises from the lower level to the second floor; from there, 67 steps lead to the cupola. The second story (also accessible by ramp) is an open space of 3,500 square feet with the staircase at the center. The floor is built of 2- by 6-inch tongue-and-groove boards resting on 2- by 12-foot floor joists. The space is used for a variety of events, including weddings, meetings and private parties.
Experienced builder
The massive building would be a major undertaking for most people, but for Marvin it just came with the territory. Owner/operator of a construction company for 30 years, he has broad experience with public and commercial projects, as well as water line work for municipalities and rural water districts.
In constructing the round barn, Marvin had only one assistant besides the brick masons. The plans were conceived in an unconventional manner. “If you want to see my plans, a friend still has the foam cup I drew them on,” he says with a grin. He enjoys pointing out an antique wooden block-and-tackle strung from the top of the staircase to the side of the barn. Purchased at a farm sale for $20, it holds 500 feet of 1-inch diameter rope. “When people ask, ‘What’s it for?’ I tell them, ‘If someone gets frightened coming down the stairs, we just put a hook in their belt and lower them.’”
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