Farm & Grounds

The Skinner-Lundberg Barn

The Skinner-Lundberg barn was built in 1917 by contractor A.K. Brown from Eaton Rapids. The barn proudly sits on a Centennial farm located at 5102 Bailey Rd. Dimondale. It stands 96 feet long, 40 feet wide, 50 feet high, and with a wing measuring 32 by 40 feet.

The Skinner-Lundberg barn was built to replace 3 barns that had been burned previously by a November lightning storm. The barn housed everything under one roof: hay, straw, grain, dairy cattle, young cattle, and work horses. The crew worked building the barn from April to July earning wages of .25-.50 cents an hour, which amounted to the total of $1,151.67. One tragedy occurred while shingling, the scaffolding broke sending a man 30 feet to the ground. He died hours later at his home.

The barn contains several unique features that were a first to this area. Automatic drinking cups were installed for the dairy cattle. Eight grain bins with individual shoots along with one large mixing bin delivered grain to the lower level. The barn was built using Shawner trusses. These trusses enabled the upstairs loft to be wide open and completely free of cross timbers.

Many repairs have been done to ensure that the barn remains standing in such great condition. Windows and siding have been replaced. Beams have been restored and the silage room was rebuilt. The barn has also been partially re-wired. New shingles and eaves troughs were replaced most recently and ongoing preservation involves constant painting.

The Skinner-Lundberg barn is part of continuing agriculture. Today the barn is used for hay and straw storage along with housing farm machinery.

The barn stands strong in a community being quickly changed by development. One could drive for many miles before encountering such a barn. With neatness and charm this barn stands beside farm fields where it will stay for many years to come. Something so vast in structure and uniquely versatile deserves the honor of Michigan Barn Preservation Network “Barn of the Year.”