Virginia Tillery Round Barn, Whitehall Illinois
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- Illinois
- Barn
- Round Barn
The relatively small size of this barn strongly suggests that it was a general-purpose barn rather than one for a large specialized dairy operation.
The adaptation of the round form to this small scale farm documents the extent to which promoters of the form attempted to make it general for barn building. The closest living descendant to the farmer (Virginia Tillery, daughter) for whom it was constructed (Harry C. Price) noted that it proved inefficient, although a detailed explanation was not available.
The 36'6" diameter of this barn makes it one of the smallest, well below the 60' median diameter of Illinois' round barns but not the smallest, the Burkett-Round Barn (Clay. County) with a 30' diameter. The Tillery Barn's ground level and loft is enclosed by brown vitrified tile blocks (9" x 12" each), surmounted with a single-hip roof of wooden shingles and a cupola whose top is 25' above grade. Double-hinged wooden doors with diagonal siding totaling 9'5" wide and 64" high on the north open onto a central drive. The identical size opening exists on the south side, although the doors have been removed. Hay was taken into the loft through a dormer on the north side directly above the north entrance. Feed was directed from the loft to troughs centrally located in semi-circles on the east and west side of the drive.
The barn is in excellent condition. All the original materials remain, except for the south doors.
Looking north (1980)
