Pioneer Town Museum
Bar I Wooden Silos
(excerpt from
upcoming book by Verna Barr)
Pioneer Town began with the acquisition of the three rare stacked
wooden silos that are visible from the highway as one enters
Cedaredge from the south. R.P. James was commissioned by Bar I
owners W.B and A.W. Stockman to build the silos in 1916 and 1917. Ed
Fischer and Emily Lukehart gave the silos and the property where
they were located to the historical society in 1981
The silos, researched
by Joan Crocker and with a grant prepared by Margaret Ellsworth,
were listed in
the Colorado State
Register of Historical Properties, dedicated on November 9, 1994.
Restoration and stabilization of
the silos was completed in 1999 following receiving the grant from
the Colorado Historical Society State Historical Fund.
Further research by Kathy Morris, granddaughter of the builder Bob James, made it possible to receive
another grant to be used toward restoring the silos. Those silos were the center of a
celebration on
Thursday, August 17, 2000. Morris and her family were among the
special guests who attended the
Designation Ceremony
of the Bar I Silos as the structures were officially recognized to
the National Register of Historical
Places by the United States Department of the Interior National
Parks Service.
Listed as Surface
Creek Livestock Company Silos on the Register under Criterion C, in
the area of Engineering, the large
storage structures exhibit integrity of design, workmanship, and
materials. The two nine-sided
silos were built in 1916 the eleven sided silo in 1917. They are
intact examples of the stacked lumber (cribbed) construction method.
The nine and eleven sided silos are extremely rare. Built of wood,
the average life span of silos built by this method had an average
life span of only 11 years due to being
susceptible to fire as well as rot. Robert (Bob) P. James used his talents
of quality carpentry work in the
intriguing multi-sided design. He lined the structures with concrete.
Both materials combined to build strong durable storage for
silage suitable to survive Surface Creek Valley climate. Over time,
the names of others who contributed to building the silos have been
lost. AH would have been amazed at how well their efforts have
withstood the test of time.
Silo #1 (east silo)
displays items found in early settler's homes. Inside, you will
discover a wood cook stove, Singer treadle sewing machine, ironing
board with irons that would have been heated on the stove, and an
assortment of early washday equipment. Walls are hung with garments,
quilts, wooden fruit boxes used for
shelving to display a variety of kitchen and other household items.
Cathy Wellman sketched the three silos that are original to the Bar I Ranch. That image became the official logo, appearing on stationary,
envelopes, newsletters, brochures and other items relating to Pioneer Town and Surface Creek Valley Historical Society.
|
Surface Creek Livestock Company Silos Built in 1916 & 1917 by Robert R James This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places By the United States Department of the Interior Plaque placed by the James Family - 2000 |
 |
This
is to certify that Surface Creek Livestock Company Silos Built 1916-1917 - Bar I Ranch Have been included in the State Register of Historic Properties by the Colorado Historical Society Date listed - November 9, 1994 Surface Creek Valley Historical Society |
Bar I Silos prior to restoration
PIONEER TOWN HISTORY
Sutherland Indian Museum
You will see one of the largest displays of its kind in the country. Inside, walls and glass cases are filled with artifacts. The Sutherland collection is displayed in 60 black frames.