PIERRE – The Hartinger Barn in Brookings County was recently added to the South Dakota State Register of Historic Places, according to the South Dakota State Historical Society.
The South Dakota State Register of Historic Places identifies sites as important properties in South Dakota history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture. Buildings, sites, structures and objects at least 50 years old possessing historical significance and integrity may qualify for the State Register.
“South Dakota’s history is rich in American Indian culture, pioneer life and change,” said Jay D. Vogt, state historic preservation officer and director of the State Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. “Properties listed on the State Register are important for their role in South Dakota’s culture, heritage and history. And when properties get listed, it shows that their owners take pride in their role in preserving that culture, heritage and history.”
Prior to 1917
The Hartinger Barn is located in Brookings County, off S.D. Highway 324 near Aurora. It was built around 1915 as a two-story Gothic Arch barn. It is believed to have been built prior to the construction of the 1917 residence.
The barn is listed in the State Register as a significant local example of the evolution in agricultural building design in the early 20th century. At that time in South Dakota, most barns were built in the popular gambrel roof type. Because of its limited construction in the state, the Hartinger Barn is an excellent restored example of the Gothic Arch barn type.
The barn retains its original rectangular footprint and is in its original location. The barn was constructed with vertical board and metal batten siding. The wood shingle arched roof flared out at the ends, ornamented by exposed rafters. The roof ridge terminated at the north end with a hay hood over a large hay door.
The original layout on the ground level featured a central north-south concrete aisle, with dirt-floored tie-stalls and mangers on the east side and milking stanchions with concrete floor the length of the west side. Just north of center, a wide, dirt cross-aisle now runs east-west, a modification added by the current owners in the late 1970s, as were horse box stalls on either side of the aisle and a tack/feed room at the northeast corner.
The farm was bought by William and Clara Hendricks in 1946. From 1947-1948, they undertook a major restoration project of the entire farmstead, including the barn.
In a 1948 news article, the couple said that when they bought the farm, they found it to be “hopelessly run down and in terrible condition.” For their extensive improvement efforts, in 1948 the Hendrickses became the first state winners of the five-state farmstead improvement contest sponsored by WNAX Radio and the Cooperative Extension Service.
Major restoration
The current owners, Robert and Barbara Hartinger, have lived on the farmstead since 1969. They undertook a major restoration project in 2014-2016 to preserve the barn for future generations. Overall, the barn’s structural integrity had deteriorated greatly. Many of the original materials were missing or in very poor condition, but the owners replicated the original materials or replaced them in-kind as needed to restore the original look of the barn.
Their project was to begin with extensive roof and loft work. But first, the contractor had to raise the ridgeline by 8 inches to make it level. Following the roof and loft, the framework was started.
To repair the foundation, the masonry contractor shored up parts of the barn, patched cracks, racketed corners and replaced part of the foundation. To direct roof runoff away from the barn and protect the foundation, a sidewalk was run the entire length of the barn’s east side and along the south side of the barn past the door to where it meets existing concrete.
Once the foundation was stable, framework continued. When this was complete, missing siding was replaced using salvaged original metal batten strips or custom fabricated replacements to match. Seven of the 10 wood doors were rebuilt like the originals. The doors were then placed in the original openings using original or salvaged hinges and latches. Twelve of the 18 wood windows were restored.
The original paint color of the barn was red. During a 1947-1948 restoration, it was painted all white. As the final, finishing touch to their exterior restoration, the Hartingers decided to return the barn to its original color. Their paint choice was Sherwin-Williams “Red Barn.” The sole color accent is a terratone hue on all 18 windows.
On the barn interior, two tie stalls on the east side were restored using the one remaining hay manger/feed box as a model. Three new box stalls with dirt floors were installed, two across from where the milking stanchions had originally been. The tack room was moved to the northwest corner, and the northeast corner now holds supplies and tools. The wide, dirt cross-aisle still runs east-west from door to door.
Original siding preserved
For nostalgia, all remaining, usable lengths of the barn’s original, weathered, vertical siding have been preserved as paneling on four interior walls, complete with tin battens salvaged from the exterior. Angled brace boards have been restored uniformly between support posts and beams, according to their original configuration. The barn has been completely rewired, and new lighting fixtures appropriate to use and era now replace bare light bulbs.
The massive loft once again stores hay and also is now available as a gathering space for a variety of activities. A barn party/family reunion and one wedding were held in 2016, and another wedding is planned for fall 2018.
An October 2018 gathering is planned to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Hendrickses being honored on Oct. 14, 1948, as state winners in the WNAX Radio farmstead improvement contest.
For more information on the State Register or other historic preservation programs, contact the State Historic Preservation Office at the Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501-2217; telephone 605-773-3458 or website history.sd.gov/Preservation.
Courtesy photos
