Ron George Round Barn, Romeoville Illinois

Date added: May 13, 2023
Looking northwest (1981)

The barn has a direct link with Wilbur J. Fraser, Illinois' promoter of round barns. According to the present owner, Fraser encouraged his brother-in-law, Mr. George, to build the barn. The Fraser family apparently lived in nearby Plainfield before Wilbur was employed by the University of Illinois. The barn cost $1,500.

This 60-foot diameter barn rests on a poured concrete foundation and is enclosed by verticle wooden siding. It has a single-hip roof with wooden shingles. A central wooden silo of elliptical shape is accessible from a loft and served nine horse stalls on the north side of the ground level. The number of cow stalls, if any, is unknown. A wooden cupola caps the roof which is an estimated 60 feet above grade. Entrance is now gained through a door on the northwest side of the barn.

The barn is in excellent condition. Although the original building materials are still in place, two large sheds alter the original design considerably. The axis of the larger one projects east from the center of the barn and is approximately 20 feet high and 50 feet long. The axis of the smaller projects south from the center of the barn and is approximately 20 feet high and 30 feet long.

Ron George Round Barn, Romeoville Illinois Looking northwest (1981)
Looking northwest (1981)

Ron George Round Barn, Romeoville Illinois Northwest side of silo (1981)
Northwest side of silo (1981)

Ron George Round Barn, Romeoville Illinois Northwest side of silo showing stenciled directions (OUTSIDE) for joining pre-cut silo members (1981)
Northwest side of silo showing stenciled directions (OUTSIDE) for joining pre-cut silo members (1981)