Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1897 — A Barn Made of Straw. [ARTICLE]

A Barn Made of Straw.

A barn that is attracting much attention all over the state, is being built on the farm of William Kerlin, in Carroll county. The barn is being built (of baled straw and will be 30x50 feet in size. Mr. Kerlin put down sleepers and is building the walls out off the large

bales of straw on the same principle that a brick wall is built, only there is no inorter used, but long, sharp wooden pins are driven down through the bales to hold them together, and it is said that it makes a solid and substantial wall. For the roof there are rafters put up and covered with rye straw. He is putting in windows and doors, and excepting the walls and roof, the building that of any other you may see on the farm. The novel structure is attracting considerable attention of people passing the road. It is said that there are hundreds of these buildings in Germany and that they are very warm and durable, and will last for many years.