Menno Yoder Polygonal Barn

Yoder, Menno, Polygonal Barn
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Northern sides of the Menno Yoder Polygonal Barn built in 1908.
Location	8690 W250N, west of Shipshewana, Newbury Township, LaGrange County, Indiana
Coordinates	41°40′30″N 85°35′47″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1908 (1908)
Built by	Yoder, Menno
Architectural style	Twelve-sided barn
MPS	Round and Polygonal Barns of Indiana MPS
NRHP reference No.	93000191
Added to NRHP	April 2, 1993

The Menno Yoder barn is one of the two remaining poured concrete polygonal barns in the United States state of Indiana. Built on the outskirts of Shipshewana in 1908 by Menno Yoder, this twelve-sided barn has been expanded upon. It is known as the Brown Swiss Dairy barn. A gravel drive extends to the barn, passing the 1911 concrete farmhouse. The polygonal barn consists of the original 1908 twelve-sided barn, a 1911 attached silo, a c.1920 rectangular addition, and a 1960s one story addition. Next to the barn is a free standing c.1950 milk house.

Cultivated fields lie to the south and west.

Exterior

The twelve-sided, two-storied structure has a two pitch sectional gambrel with a metal aerator at the top. The one-story 1960s barn is on the northwest side and has a gambrel roof that covers the gap between the polygonal barn and the two-story c.1920 barn behind. The two-story c.1920 barn is on the southwest side and has a shallow pitch gable roof, which wraps around the twelve-sided barn. A small rectangular addition on the south side of the two-story barn was erected in c.1960. The rectangular c.1920 barn is two stories tall.

All roofs are metal and feature slight overhanging eaves and exposed rafters. Walls of the polygonal barn are of poured concrete, which were never painted or finished. The c.1920 barn has vertical wood sided walls, and the c.1960 barn has glazed block walls. All foundations are of concrete.

Interior

A central drive runs from north to south, connecting the two lower level doors. On either side are pens for horses and cows, with four horse stalls on either side at the north end and six cattle stalls on either side at the south end. There is a small walkway between the horse and cattle stalls and another walkway next to the outside walls at the south end of the barn. Behind the stalls on both the east- and west sides are smaller open areas with feed alleys that served as low pens for sheep and calves. Additionally, there is a set of stairs to the upper level in the northeast corner of the barn and a bull stall in the northwest corner. The upper level consists of a large haymow for the storage of hay and straw and the roof's system is readily visible. Windows help to provide light to the upper level where laminated beams serve as the main means of support between the two different roof sections. Additionally, another laminated beam is placed near the roof's apex to offer support for the metal aerator that successfully ventilates the upper reaches of the barn. The only door on the upper level is the one on the east that is serviced by the ramp and the stairs to the lower level are located in the northeast quadrant. The ground level is composed of many pens on either side of a main walkway running north to south. There is a shorter walkway that connects this main walk to the twelve-sided barn, with the smaller walk running east-west. The upper floors are open for the storage of hay and straw. The northern barn, being one story, has only attic space above the lower level.

Significance

The Yoder Polygonal Barn is one of few masonry barns in the state, and one of only two remaining polygonal concrete structures in Indiana. The barn is an important and direct link to the agricultural development that occurred in the state from 1850 to 1936. The period of significance of the barn is 1908–1936. After 1936, round and polygonal barns were considered obsolete.

Bibliography

• "A Concrete Barn". The Indiana Farmer, Vol. LXV, No. 13, May 8, 1909, p. 2.
• Hanou, John. Research compiled on Indiana's round and polygonal barns from 1986 to present. Archived at Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, 340 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Intensive architectural survey of Indiana's round and polygonal barns, Conducted June to August 1991, conducted by Jerry McMahan, area wide survey of round and polygonal architectural and historical resources.
• Rolfe, AL . Two Barns of Unique Design". Country Life, Vol. XX, October 1, 1911, p. 62 and 68.
• Soike, Lowell J.; Without Right Angles, The Round Barns of Iowa; Des Moines, IA: Iowa State Historical Department, Office of Historic Preservation, 1983.
• Yoder, Menno S. "A Concrete Barn". The Dakota Farmer, April 15, 1910, p 14-15.
• Yoder, Menno S. "Building a Concrete Silo". The Farmer's Guide, Vol. XXIII, No. December 16, 1911, p. 4.
• Yoder, Menno S. "Twelve-sided Cement Barn". The Farmer's Guide, Vol. XX, No. 25, June 20, 1908, p. 1. Vol. XX, No., August 21, 1908, p. 7. Vol. XX, No., December 12, 1908, p. 5.
• Yoder, Menno S. "Yoder's Cement Barn". Hoard's Dairyman, Vol. XL, No. 2, January 8, 1919, p. 1355. "Yoder's Stable Plans". Vol. XL, No. 11, April 16, 1909, p.l.