FRANKLIN CIOUNTY

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HAMPTON - The Rodemeyer barn near the county seat of Franklin County hasn't been used for animals in over 35 years, but still solidly stands as the focal point of the farm.

"The barn means a lot to me," said Marvin W. Rodemeyer. "That's why I kept it. It's a real landmark."

Back in 1914 Marvin's father, Ernest D. Rodemeyer with the help of family and a hired block layer, constructed the 52-by-32-foot barn on what is now a family Century Farm.

The barn was built for the typical uses of most barns - shelter for cows, work horses, calves and hay storage.

Marvin described his block barn as unique and that he has only seen one other one like it, which happened to be his uncle's old block barn.

Throughout the barn's 94 years, the Rodemeyers said they have been fortunate to be able to maintain the general upkeep of the barn, which has included a new roof and paint. Marvin said he firmed up the foundation at one time, but is lucky that structurally the barn is in good shape and the block has never been touched.

The Rodemeyers had the cupolas repaired with some new tin and replaced.

Marvin said he is amazed that his mother and father with the use of a pulley system and horses first put the large cupolas that sit on the roof of his barn into place.

A silo was constructed a year after the barn was built.

"The following year in 1915 was a wet year and the corn never matured so they needed a place to store it for feed so they put up the silo," said Marvin.

Marvin said he has many fond memories of fun and hard work that occurred in and around the barn. Most of his memories take him back to when he was eight or nine years old, when his duties were to bring the horses in to unload hay up into the hay mow.

If there was hay that couldn't fit up there, he said they would pile it on the ground then they would jump from the hay mow into the soft pile of loose hay.

Marvin and Patty say their children also enjoyed playing in the hay mow as well and often talk about the fun they used to have.

The barn is now used for storage and always seems to become a backdrop for many family photos, Patty said.

Marvin said he would like to see the barn keep standing and would hope it would stay in the family, but realizes there are no guarantees that would happen, and if that is the case thinks it would be an ideal place for someone to start up a hobby farm.

Contact Kriss Nelson at jknelson@frontiernet.net.