HANCOCK COUNTY

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CORWITH - Walking through a barn gives many clues to the history of the barn and its farm. It can also show the state of the farm today if the barn is still used for livestock or has become a place for storage.

The barn located on the Century Farm of Thurman and Gerry Gaskill, located near this southwest Hancock County rural community, is similar to many barns with signs from the past of housing livestock, including a well-worn wooden post rubbed by horses. Thurman Gaskill has removed the stanchions that held the dairy cattle for milking, but a rope remains in the hay mow.

Gaskill's grandfather, E.G. Gaskill, built the barn in 1912 for cattle and horses. E.G. Gaskill was described by his grandson as a man of vision, stern discipline, and was community-oriented. He loved to build and in the 1920s, built a radio for relaxation.

George Gaskill, Thurman's father, went to college at Iowa State University, but quit school to come home to farm when his father was unable to make mortgage payments. Thurman's parents were married in1933 and lived in the same house as his grandparents.

Its use as a milking barn ended in 1964 when Thurman Gaskill wanted to expand his hog operation. The barn was used for gestating hogs until 1995 when the hog operation was slowly discontinued as his sons went off to college. Today, the barn is used for storage.

The Gaskills are parents to three children and grandparents to six grandchildren, five boys and a girl, ages five to eight. The family helps during planting and harvesting on the farm's 1,120 acres with field work and meals.

The barn's useful life is about to undergo changes to prepare it for its future. Blueprints have been drawn that will convert the barn to a 40-by-60-foot farm shop with a family gathering center on one end while retaining much of the barn's original character.

The barn's heritage will be preserved because Thurman and Gerry Gaskill want their grandchildren to know of the barn's past. Much of the barn's original interior will be retained, such as the wooden support posts with their wear spots.

Swinging on the haymow rope will be possible as it will remain in 20 feet of the original haymow along with a few hay bales. The room that was used for feed storage will become a bathroom with the original sliding wooden doors still in place.

Another part of the barn that will keep its history is the wall with the initials of past workers from the prison at Anamosa who worked on the Gaskill farm from years ago when extra labor was needed and not available locally.

To date, the barn has been re-roofed and will be insulated. Completion of the barn's next life is expected within the next year.

Contact Clayton Rye at crye@wctatel.net.