Somerville Barn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Somerville Barn
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| Location | 1050 N. College Rd., Alaiedon Township, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | c. 1865 |
| Architectural style | Raised Barn |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000152 |
| Added to NRHP | March 17, 2005 |
The Somerville Barn, also known as the Caltrider Barn, is an old farm building located in Alaiedon Township, Michigan. It is part of a larger farm area. This special barn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This means it is an important historical place that should be protected.
Contents
A Look Back: The Barn's History
The Somerville Family Arrives
The story of the Somerville Barn begins with William and Jane Somerville. They moved from Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1849. They followed Jane's brother, John, and settled in Delhi Township. In 1854, they started their own farm. This farm was located across the road from where the barn stands today.
A few years later, around 1863, the Somervilles bought the land where the barn is now. Around 1865, William Somerville built a barn on this new property. It was right across from his house.
Passing Down the Farm
In 1875, William Somerville gave 50 acres of his land to his son, James. This land included the spot where the Somerville Barn is. James married Agnes Fellows in 1878. They built a house on their new farm.
In 1881, James Somerville built another barn on his property. Later, in 1887, he bought more land from his father. This included the barn built around 1865. James then moved this older barn and attached it to the barn he built in 1881. Around 1900, he made the barn even bigger by adding a section called an "ell."
New Generations and Changes
James and Agnes Somerville had a son named John. John married Ida Warren Palen in 1907. They had a son, Palen James Somerville, in 1912. Sadly, John Somerville died in 1919. Ida later remarried. She continued to live with James Somerville until he passed away in 1930.
Palen Somerville inherited the farm. However, he lived in a different family home and rented out the farm. In 1932, Palen married Millie Scott. In 1938, they moved back to the Somerville farm. They added a concrete silo to the barn. They also made other repairs and improvements to the farm over the next ten years.
By 1959, Palen and Millie stopped farming. They began renting out the farm's fields. Their daughter, JoAnn, and her husband, Robert Earl Caltrider, used the barn for raising and shearing sheep until 1972. Since then, the barn has mostly been used for storing things.
What the Barn Looks Like
The Somerville Barn is a large building made of wood. It is shaped like the letter "L." It is called a "raised barn" because its lower level is partly above the ground. The barn is made from two older "English barns" that were joined together. This makes the whole structure about 90 feet long.
The barn's frame is made of large, cut timbers. Some of these logs still have their bark on them! The bottom level of the barn is mostly made of concrete blocks. This level is fully above the ground on three sides. The barn is part of a farm area that also includes a house.
Barn Sections
The western part of the barn is about 46 feet long and 34 feet wide. The eastern part is about 44 feet long and 32.5 feet wide. The front parts of both sections line up evenly. The barn also has a section at the back called a "rear ell." This part is about 44 feet wide and 27 feet deep. There is also a small room for a silo and a round concrete silo attached to the barn.
