Round Barns of Vernon County
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Vernon County, just south of LaCrosse, Wisconsin and bordered on it's western
edge by the Mississippi River has a unique collection of round barns built in
the early decades of the twentieth century. Most of them are clustered around
Ontario, Mr. Tabor and Trippville. These images were videotaped by Wisconsin Public Televsion in the summer of 1998. For more information about these barns contact the Vernon County Historical Society. |
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An interesting historical note about one of the round barn builders. Alga Shivers, an African-American man, was born in Vernon County in 1889, and lived his entire life there. He built a round barn on the farm he inherited from his parents, then supervised the construction of an additional 15 round barns in the area. Married at the age of 58 to Flora Revels Waldron, who was 68, they raised three children whose parents were killed. Flora had a big garden and was seen tending it into her late 90's. He great-granddaughter Genevieve Roberts Reko remembers that most visitors left with something from the garden. Alga received a plaque from the Hillsboro Community Service Club and the Hillsboro Sentry- Enterprise for his community service. |
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