Basket Weave? by Cindy RN
Basket weaves, no not at all but the roof of The Round Barn, located in Arcadia, Oklahoma on old Route 66.
Perhaps this is most photographed barn in Oklahoma. It is a beautiful barn these days after being refurbished. I remember passing this barn years ago, and it always stood out, even in its dilapidated state.
Many round barns were built across the United States because they had discovered that it required less wood and stone than the usual rectangular barns, and was less costly. The roofs of a round barn are supported by one circular wall, and no columns are need. There is more room for livestock and hay. The loft of the barns have an opening in the center which allows for hay to be dropped into the feeding area below. Midwesterners also learned that high winds and even tornadoes that would pulverize an ordinary barn, and often would glance off a round barn.
The original barn ROUND BARN, in Arcadia, Oklahoma, was built by William Harrison Odor (Big Bill Odor) in 1898, it is written that the locals scoffed at the idea of a round barn, but Odor soaked green lumber in water, and then shaped the rafters to form the exact curve of the roof. The lumber Odor used was Burr Oak, which he soaked the wood for weeks in the closest river in order to bend the boards to form the circular frame of the barn. When it was completed, he used the lower level to store his hay and shelter cattle and mules, while the upper level was used for barn dances and social gatherings.
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The Round Barn, Arcadia, Oklahoma
Perhaps this is most photographed barn in Oklahoma. It is a beautiful barn these days after being refurbished. I remember passing this barn years ago, and it always stood out, even in its dilapidated state. This is a picture taken from a photograph of how the barn looked before being refurbished, notice the green egg shaped roof that was made out of cedar shingles, this photo is hanging in the loft of the round barn:
Below are a few more photos of the beautiful ceiling in the loft of the round barn. The ceiling is spectacular, and the beauty of it was difficult to capture, you can also see sunlight that peeks through some of the rafters:
This is the roof of the first floor that supports the floor of the loft:
In the 1970’s the barn was abandoned, it began to bulge from the sides and was leaning to the east.
By 1980 the barn had suffered greatly from years of neglect and it was donated to the Arcadia Historical and Preservation society. In 1988 a group of citizens bought it and fixed it up, by pounding telephone poles into the ground all around the barn, they then wrapped heavy guide wires around them and pulled the wires until the barn was upright again, causing the roof to collapse. To replace the sixty-foot roof was going to cost $165,000 dollars.
Luther (Luke) Robison had always admired the round barn. Robison and a group called the Over the Hill gang (a group of retires 65 years old and older) volunteered their time, money and skills. Together they were able to restore the barn over a period of fours years for only $65,000 dollars. They recruited volunteers, sold inscribed commemorative bricks, accepted donations of equipment and labor and set up a roadside donation box.
The Barn is 60 feet in diameter, forty-five feet high, and is two stories high with a wooden floor in the loft.
The Round Barn history and facts were accumulated from several web sites will doing my research. I hope you have enjoyed looking at my photos and reading about Arcadia’s Round Barn, it is truly worth visiting.
The Round Barn as it stands today:
fantaatic capture, wondrous imagery and marvellous craftsmanship to make it. hugs
Thank you hilary, I was awed by the construction of this barn. It is obvious much love and work went into it to bring it back to its natural state :) xxx
– Cindy RN
Well, Michael you really must make the trip and go and see it, it really is spectacular, and worth the trip.
Thank you so very much, for the wonderful comment :)
– Cindy RN
Fabulous when you see all of it. hugs
Thank you so very much, hilary:) xxx
– Cindy RN
Beautiuflly captured Harriet, lovely to see all the images too!
Thank you so much, Elaine much appreciated :)
– Cindy RN
Harriet perfect shots you got.. Great !!! Enjoyed your images a lot..
Oh..Erhan, thank you so much :)
– Cindy RN
lovely story backed by good shots jell
Jell, thank you so much for commenting :)
– Cindy RN
great work. tom
Thanks, Tom! :)
– Cindy RN
Fantastic work mate thank you for the journey something i’ll never get to see thanks for sharing
Tony.. ~;)
Never say never Ramace, one never knows what life is going to throw their way :)
Thank you for commenting, my friend :)
– Cindy RN
it was awesome. tom
So very sweet of you to say, Tom, Thank you again :)
– Cindy RN