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Sheep Barn

During the period 1865 to 1898, several structures were built to house the College sheep flocks. The first was developed as a model sheep house to accommodate six breeds of sheep and included a fattening pen for mutton sheep. This small facility was located where the Food Science Building is presently located. Sheep sheds were constructed in 1911 north of the Chicago Northwestern Railroad track and used until destroyed by fires in 1938 and 1959.

Early Sheep Barn


Early Sheep BarnSheep Barn 1922Photographs in the Iowa State University Archives that were made in 1917 show a sheep barn of wood frame construction. At the time the photographs were made the building appears relatively new; thus, construction was probably accomplished a few years earlier. No records have been located to establish the architect or builder. The building was beautiful in architectural detail with eyebrow-shaped dormers built into the roof. How or when the building was destroyed is not established.

 

Sheep Barn, 1922-1925 to 1969


In 1922 a substantial sheep barn was built where the National Soil Tilth Laboratory now stands. This building was designed by Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson of Des Moines and constructed under supervision of Thomas Sloss (Iowa State College). Walls were of clay tile. The roof style was gambrel with turned up eaves characteristic of the other barns in the area. The roof had shed dormers with windows for ventilation of the mow and metal ventilators as well. The two wings formed an L-shape design. The first wing was constructed in 1922 and the second was completed in 1925. The interior provided large group housing as well as small pens for breeding and lambing. The building was razed in 1969.