National Register of Historic Places

Wickfield Round Barn

Cantril, Van Buren County, Iowa
Listed
June 29, 1986
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86001447

About this property

The Wickfield Round Barn is a historic sale barn building located near Cantril in rural Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. Originally called Silvers Sale Pavilion, it was built in 1919 by Alva Hunt for $20,000. The true round barn measures 50 feet (15 m) in diameter. Frank Silvers, a successful hog breeder and businessman, operated the largest Hampshire hog farm in the world. The first floor had seating for 700 people. Silvers' business offices were also located on the first floor. The structure is constructed of clay tile and features an aerator. The two-pitch roof features eight dormers on the lower part and four dormers on the upper part of the roof. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986. There are no round barns in Iowa used as sale barns any longer, and this one is used for storage. It is claimed to be the "most unusual use of any round barn in the state and without doubt the most elaborate farm sale barn known to have existed."

Location

Cantril, Van Buren County, Iowa
40.66794, -92.02331

Categories

AGRICULTUREENGINEERING
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.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, Bathing Area (Area C)
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4 mi
Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, Lodge and Picnic Area (Area A)
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4.1 mi
Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, Picnic and Custodial Group (Area B)
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4.3 mi
Eisenhower Bridge
Industrial
5 mi
Hotel Manning
Industrial
5.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Athens Missouri
1861Civil War
9.7 mi
Battle of Athens
1861Civil War
14.9 mi
Battle of Athens Missouri — Iowa Troops
1861Civil War
15 mi

Questions about this property

When was Wickfield Round Barn listed on the National Register?

Wickfield Round Barn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Wickfield Round Barn?

Wickfield Round Barn is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Wickfield Round Barn?

The period of significance for Wickfield Round Barn is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Wickfield Round Barn?

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 Wickfield Round Barn will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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