National Register of Historic Places

Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse

Earlham, Madison County, Iowa
Listed
August 19, 2009
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
09000621

About this property

The William and Mary (Messersmith) Seerley Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse are historic buildings located on a farm southwest of Earlham, Iowa, United States. The Seerleys moved from Indiana and settled on their 200-acre (81 ha) farm in 1856, and built a log cabin the same year as their residence. They built a permanent home in 1861, and around the same time the combination milkhouse and smokehouse was built. The barn followed around 1876. These two buildings are early examples of well preserved agricultural building. The two rooms of the milkhouse-smokehouse sit at right angles from each other. The single-story structure is composed of finished cut rubble. It features a stone lined well, water troughs that cooled and stored dairy products, the smokehouse, and a covered outdoor work area where food was processed and laundry. The Sweitzer Pennsylvania barn is composed of native limestone on the lower level, and a heavy timber haymow with forebay on the upper level. It was built into the side of a south facing hill, and the forebay extends 8 feet (2.4 m) on the south side. The buildings and the connecting stone walkway were listed together on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

Location

1840 137th La.
Earlham, Madison County, Iowa
41.44505, -94.08455

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTUREAGRICULTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse

This page lists Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Allen, James, Stone Barn
Industrial
1.1 mi
Wilson, Seth and Elizabeth, House
Industrial
1.8 mi
Ford, W. T., House
Industrial
2.7 mi
North River Stone Schoolhouse
Industrial
3.6 mi
Church, Seymour, House
Industrial
3.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse listed on the National Register?

Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 2009.

What type of historic resource is Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse?

Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse?

The period of significance for Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Madison County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Madison County.

Explore MadisonCounty ›

More historic places in Iowa

Browse all historic places in Iowa.

View Iowahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Iowa history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Iowahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report