moved in from Hannewald Road

This very important farm building was used to store the small grains which were grown on the farm. The granary was usually made of wood rather than stone or bricks. Wood was more plentiful and didn't gather and hold moisture. The interior was divided into small areas called bins. Wide boards were pegged or nailed on top of each other, as well as to sturdy posts, making partitions between bins. Boards were fastened across the front of the bins to contain the grain. Frequently a son or daughter was the "bagholder" for Pa as he shoveled or pailed the grain into grain bags. Wheat, especially, was bagged and taken to Waterloo Mill to be ground into flour for the family. Grains were fed to cattle, pigs, sheep and horses. Seed was saved from the bins for planting the following year.

Our granary was built with an upstairs for additional grain storage. This upstairs was used to hang choice ears of corn laced on a string to dry for next year's planting. A built-in stairs leads to the second story. Vertical boards were placed around the top of the stairway to keep the grain from sliding down.

Other granaries were built with bins on one side and across the back, with a corncrib on the opposite side. Sometimes there was a small area for storing hand tools, in which case a workbench for making small repairs would be installed near the inside partition. This would not be the case once a separate farm repair shop was built.

This useful and interesting building with its wholesome and pungent smells of oats, wheat and rye provided a suitable storage place for the melons. These were buried deep within the grains so the air could not hasten the spoilage. Family and friends could enjoy the tasty fruit far into the fall. Close watch was kept on the bins to control damage from rodents and birds. Number One Rule: Keep the doors closed after storing grains!

Our granary was moved in 1981 from the Emulius Parks farmstead, located on Parks Road about a mile from the Museum. A new shingled roof, windows, a large door and railroad-tie steps completed the restoration of this building. At the present time, the granary houses our gift shop. Bins and the canvas shoot are still intact, in order to retain the feel of this wonderful building.