By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
Some may say barns don't have a use in modern day farming, but one man has made it his quest to make sure that history is preserved.
Jim Stone's one of those retired folks that just can't get used to retirement. So he's combined his restlessness with his love for history and barns.
Jim Stone said, "Nobody milks cows anymore and they certainly don't farm with horses. They don't really have a use anymore. So they're being allowed to deteriorate and fall down."
But, not if he can help it.
He's the sole researcher for the Clay County Historical Preservation Commission.
So far he's been to 199 barns in a year and a half, taking notes of size, purpose and possible floor plans. And all his records are given to the state.
"I just think it's really important to preserve the history because someday they're all going to be gone and there's no record left," said Stone.
So with Stone's work, this way, information on the early stages of agriculture and design can be available for future generations.
Stone guesses he's about halfway done with his barn journey, but isn't quite sure since he says, he's always finding undiscovered barns tucked away in the county he calls home.
To find information on the Clay County barns click here.
Click on Builder Query. The following is the information needed to pull up the following barns.
11CL00000582 Collar, 2CL00500001 CAnute Weeks, 2CL00500002 Canute Weeks 2, 2CL00000571 Martin Weeks, 13CL00000578 Farabee, 22CL00600002 Sokolowski, 16CL00000583 Chaney, 15CL00000572 Jacobson, 15CL00000570 Sorenson, 18CL00000575 Herman Frier, 30CL00000576 Henrikson, 5CL00000584 Cecil Schultz, 15CL00000568 Wm. Gregoire, 9CL00000574 Hubert Gregoire, 23CL00000577 Hans Jacobson, 35CL00000579 Elmer Ellison,
3CL00000569 Van Nelson, 17CL00000581 Edward Merrigan, 16CL00000580 Ellef Anderson, 13CL00200095 Peterson carriage barn
