Built by Major William Bell in 1882, the round fieldstone Bell Barn is one of Saskatchewan’s oldest agricultural structures. Situated just north of Indian Head, it represents the last remnant of Bell’s effort to establish a corporate farm in the Canadian West. The barn, measuring 20 meters in diameter, features evenly spaced gun ports and a central silo that also served as a lookout tower. It had the capacity to store 4,000 bushels of oats and 100 tons of hay, and included an office.
The barn faced the risk of disappearing from the Prairie landscape as it deteriorated over time. Previous preservation efforts had failed due to insufficient financial backing. However, with the dedication of Saskatchewan archivist and heritage consultant Frank Korvemaker, the Indian Head community successfully raised over $1 million. In 2008, the barn’s stone walls were meticulously dismantled and rebuilt on land donated by the municipality, located about 200 meters north of its original site, while still remaining within the 1882 farmyard.

Type of Data Point - Website/Blog Post

Bell Barn - National Trust for Canada

Visit page of the element - Bell Farm

Inserted: 07-09-2024 01:09:34