BROOKINGS Its a story as big as a barn; and its coming to Brookings Public Library on Aug. 7 at 6:30 p.m. when Liz Almlie from the South Dakota State Historical Society tells the tale of Farmsteads: A South Dakota Architectural History.
Through my day job I get to see some of the studies done on Czech, German and Russian barns, Almlie said. How they adapted the barns they were used to in Europe to the materials they had available here field stone, and not just sod construction but also other types of earthen construction.
She said immigrant settlers brought their architectural styles with them.
Those first generations had traditions of how things got built, Almlie said. So we see more European traditions in those first generations of structures in how they designed windows for example. The Germans would often have a house and a barn in the same building. Itd be sort of divided but adjacent so they could share heat and have easy access.
She said because settlers built barns so often, its rare to find documentation on construction methods.
There were times youd enlist your neighbors to help, or thered be someone in the local area who was well-known for their carpentry skills, Almie said. One of the more recent (barns) I did research on was by Menno. … The family had a relative who helped them built that, a bunk house on the property and another house for someone else in the area. He mustve been well-known as an area carpenter.
She said agricultural architecture evolved over time.
Traditional methods start to disappear with new buildings in the 1910s and 1920s, Almlie said. Things become influenced by the industry standards of the time what advice was coming out of SDSU, USDA and other experts. You could buy barns as kits even, by mail order. You could buy plans from companies like Sears and Roebuck, but you could also even buy full barns. Theyd mail you the lumber and everything.
She said some designs didnt stand the test of time.
As we get into the later 20th century, theres some interesting things you start seeing, Almlie said. The experts were thinking through new things, and farmers adapted that. There were whole sets of round and polygonal barns that were tried out. They didnt take off hugely.
She said farmers practiced the architectural maxim of form following function.
The primary influence is probably what the barn is being used for, Almlie said. East river, there could be more dairy and more mixed, diverse uses on a single farm. But then in the center and west, we start seeing larger cattle barns and feeder barns. Its not a clear line, it just depends on what the farmer was doing.
She said still having a purpose remains a key to historic preservation.
Theres always a balance between having history on the landscape and still having a use for (a barn), Almlie said. If the building was not being used, its harder and harder to keep it standing. So we see barns adapted for different uses over time maybe a smaller storage area or a specialized use, while newer buildings handle the machinery and tractors.
She said resources are available to preserve historic farm buildings.
Theres a state grant program and some tax incentive programs, Almlie said. We do see barns come through applying for grants sometime to help get things stabilized at least roofs, foundations and things. But all types of properties can apply for the grants. Its a fairly competitive program, but we do see barns sometimes get grants.
She encouraged people to bring questions to Thursdays presentation or visit website history.sd.gov/preservation for more information.
There are pages on the National Register of Historic Places, funding opportunities and links to our social media, Almlie said. Weve got a Flickr page for the office and then the State Historical Society has Facebook as well. Were always sharing stories about what we do.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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