Daniel E. Krause Stone Barn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Daniel E. Krause Stone Barn
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Front and side of the barn
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northeastern corner of County Trunk Highway S and Schwartz Rd., Chase, Wisconsin |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | D.E. Krause, William Mensenkamp |
| Architectural style | Stone barn |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000810 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 2000 |
The Daniel E. Krause Stone Barn, also called the Chase Stone Barn, is a very old and important barn. You can find it in Chase, a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. A farmer named Daniel E. Krause designed this special barn. A skilled builder, William Mensenkamp, built it. People know this barn for its long history and unique design.
Contents
Building the Stone Barn
What is a Fieldstone Barn?
The Krause Stone Barn was built using fieldstone. Fieldstone means rocks that farmers found right in their fields. Many barns were built this way. But the Krause Barn is special. Its walls are made almost entirely of stone. This makes it stronger than most other stone barns.
Big Arch Entrances
Another cool feature is its huge arch entrances. These arches are so big that large hay wagons could drive right through them. This made it easy to move hay in and out of the barn. As of 2010, this barn was one of only two fieldstone barns left in all of Wisconsin.
Keeping the Barn Strong
New Owners and Repairs
The Krause family sold the barn and farm in 1920. After that, the barn had many different owners. In the mid-1950s, two brothers bought the property. They farmed there for many years. They also made sure the barn stayed in good shape.
Fixing Damage
By the 1990s, the barn was getting old. It had also been hit by a tornado in 1994. So, in 1995, workers started big repair projects. They strengthened the walls and fixed damaged parts. They even added large beams to support the sagging walls. This work helped the barn last much longer.
A National Treasure
What is the National Register?
In 2000, the Krause Barn was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of important buildings, sites, and objects in the United States. Being on this list means a place is historically or architecturally significant. It helps protect these places for the future.
Saving the Barn
In 2009, the Krause Barn was even nominated for a list called "America's 11 Most Endangered Places." This showed how important it was to save this unique building.
Future Plans for the Barn
A Park and Museum
Local people really care about the Krause Barn. They see it as a very important landmark. The town has now bought the barn. They are raising money to keep it maintained. There are exciting plans to turn the barn and its surrounding area into a park. They might even make it a museum!
Learning About Farming History
The stable area inside the barn could become a "rustic agriculture museum." Here, visitors could see how farming was done around 1900. They might even display old farm equipment. Other ideas include building a stone bridge over a nearby creek and a stone walking path. There are also plans for a historic general store. All these ideas aim to share the barn's history with everyone.
