Barn Building Memories
The article on Barn Moving 101 reminded me of my father’s barn near Northwood, ND. It was similar in style to the one pictured in the article. It measured 32 feet wide, 35 feet high, and 60 feet long. He hired a crew to move it about a mile from a farm he had just purchased. They jacked it up, put huge timbers under it (about 12 inches square, if I remember accurately). They loaded the front on an Army-style all-wheel drive truck and the rear on two dollies, each with 4 truck tires. They had some kind of system of chains that allowed them to steer the dollies as they moved along the narrow township road and turned corners.
Once it was in place, my father transformed it into a “loafing barn”—that is, one where the cows (a combination of milk cows and beef cows) were loose except for milking. He boarded off space in the front (east) end. In it were four stalls for milking (two cows at a time), a feed bin, a stall for a team of draft horses, and a calf pen. The rest of the barn was open, with a hay manger along the north wall, a trough for silage jutting into the open space from the silo on the south side of the barn, and an electrically-heated drinking cup in the east end (water was also available on the other side of the wall, in the calf pen). He cut a 24-foot door on the south side, which remained open except in the case of a bad blizzard. In nice weather, he would feed hay outside. Through the large door we drove a tractor and loader each spring to clean out the manure.
By the way, a semi-retired carpenter was helping him with the changes. One day, my father asked him to cut a 24-foot door in the south side of the barn. The carpenter said, “You can’t do that!” My father replied, “If you won’t, I will.” The carpenter relented, cut the opening and added the extra framing to keep it strong. Even this was an innovation! My father was not following someone else’s pattern!
From what I understand, his was one of the first “loafing barns” that far north. Once it was working, there were two busloads of farmers from Canada who came to see it. When it was being built, the prevailing opinion of local farmers had been that it would never work, because the udders of the cows would freeze. (This did happen, of course, when cows were kept in stalls in a warm barn and were let outside in cold weather.) However, with a well-bedded, covered area where they remained dry and sheltered from the wind, this was never a problem.
The barn still exists, but it is no longer used for cows. The haymow floor has been removed, the building reinforced, the large door filled in, and a new large door added to the front. It now houses my brother’s farm trucks and some small equipment.
–Darrell Jodock, MN
Wow, it’s always cool hearing about the unique choices people make out on the farm! Thanks for sharing interesting stories, Darrell! –Ed
Historic Saw Teeth
After the purchase of our property in the 70’s, I had the opportunity to spend time metal detecting. I came across an old logging camp on the back property, and I found a decent amount of saw teeth.
I also have a letter from the historical society.
I appreciate the opportunity to share a bit of history.
–Wes Moe, MN
Safer Harrow Pulling
I read Josephine Roberts’ story and have seen things pulled behind tractors get caught in a rear tire and get up on the driver. One safer way to pull harrows is to always leave a long enough chin between the harrow and the tractor drawbar. If the chain shocks be caught in a back tire during a sharp turn, it will go over the top of the tire or hit the fender, giving you warning instead of the harrow hitting you. When you drag something, use a long chain .
Thanks for a great magazine!
-Gary Bailey, CO
Thanks for the great advice, Gary! It’s always helpful to know how to stay safe while working with powerful machinery. -Ed
This engine found me
An upright 4hp Secord & Orr gas engine found me over the weekend (August 8-11). A fellow was asking if anyone was interested in buying an old engine that he had. He was cleaning out his grandma’s house in which this engine was stored. I got his contact information and called him the next day. He contacted me and my son, and I went to take a look.
I had a Novo 3hp a number of years ago, and in the past couple of years had been thinking of finding that one or another like it. So, it’s like this engine ‘found’ me!
We looked at the engine and decided that this was for me. We put it on a small trailer that I towed with my ’55 DeSoto for the two hour drive home.
There is scant information on the internet about this, so I thought by contacting you that you may have some information about it. I can send pictures if you want.
Thanks for your help,
-Bruce Grimes
If anyone has any information on Secord & Orr engines, email editor@FarmCollector.com and we’ll get you in contact with Bruce. -Ed