Horse-Drawn Heritage at the Barns Museum

By Loretta Sorensen
Published on June 30, 2011
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Original paint on the rear axle of a Studebaker wagon.
Original paint on the rear axle of a Studebaker wagon.
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Pulled by three horses, this spade mulcher was used to work ground after it had been cleared. It was manufactured by Diamond Horseshoe Co., Duluth, Minn.
Pulled by three horses, this spade mulcher was used to work ground after it had been cleared. It was manufactured by Diamond Horseshoe Co., Duluth, Minn.
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J.R. Pearson has collected vintage dray wagons and horse-drawn equipment for 20 years. His collection is showcased in The Barns, a multi-building museum he developed in his hometown of Marcus, Iowa. Here he is seen with a Leidy stalk cutter.
J.R. Pearson has collected vintage dray wagons and horse-drawn equipment for 20 years. His collection is showcased in The Barns, a multi-building museum he developed in his hometown of Marcus, Iowa. Here he is seen with a Leidy stalk cutter.
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J.R.’s International Harvester Cloverleaf manure spreader dates to about 1905.
J.R.’s International Harvester Cloverleaf manure spreader dates to about 1905.
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J.R.’s Studebaker double-box wagon with brakes and seat. The rear axle is marked with the year 1894.
J.R.’s Studebaker double-box wagon with brakes and seat. The rear axle is marked with the year 1894.
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An exceptional original: This International Harvester no. 456 20-inch brush breaker was manufactured in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where it was probably used to break sod. It was pulled by a team of four horses.
An exceptional original: This International Harvester no. 456 20-inch brush breaker was manufactured in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where it was probably used to break sod. It was pulled by a team of four horses.
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A Stoddard dump rake dating to the 1890s.
A Stoddard dump rake dating to the 1890s.
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J.R. restored this Louisville stalk cutter. Stalk cutters were used to remove standing stalks after corn was picked. The drag hooks on this model were made to line up the stalks for thorough cutting. A steel shield provided safety from the cutter’s blades and from flying debris.
J.R. restored this Louisville stalk cutter. Stalk cutters were used to remove standing stalks after corn was picked. The drag hooks on this model were made to line up the stalks for thorough cutting. A steel shield provided safety from the cutter’s blades and from flying debris.

J.R. Pearson couldn’t help it. A wagon and buggy maker by profession as well as a collector, for nearly 20 years he watched piece after piece of agricultural history fade away at rural auctions. Recognizing the historic value of the old relics, J.R. began purchasing unique implements to add to his collection. Then came the creation of a museum – The Barns – in his hometown of Marcus, Iowa, making the implements available to those who share his interest in farming and history.

“I try to find items that are as old as possible, in workable condition and somewhat unique,” J.R. says. “If they need restoration I do the work myself.” The vast majority of the collection, which was first opened to the public in 2008, consists of horse-drawn items. Signs placed throughout allow convenient, self-guided tours. Visits are available by appointment.

Rare, one-of-a-kind antiques add to the museum’s appeal. “One of my favorite pieces is an International Harvester breaking plow with original paint that I found in Gilbert, Minn.,” J.R. says. “The man I bought it from used it on his own land there. It originally came from Canada. It has a 20-inch bottom. It takes four horses to move it. It’s made to be heavy so it wouldn’t flip when they were breaking sod. It probably weighs 600 or 700 pounds.”

A pair of stalk cutters is also prominently displayed. One is a Louisville model; the other is a Leidy. A collection of wagons and wagon seats is another highlight of the museum. John Deere, Montgomery Ward, Mitchell and Triumph are among the lines featured.

Wagons before cars

A Studebaker wagon in the museum is a fine relic of a legendary era in American industry. John Studebaker, son of German immigrants, was born in 1799 near Philadelphia. He married a local girl, built himself a Conestoga wagon and headed west to Ohio. His sons, Clement and Henry, formed the Studebaker Blacksmiths and Wagon Makers Co. in 1852. By 1872 the company was known as the largest vehicle builder in the world.

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