The Round Barns of Western Wisconsin
A round barn was more efficient in the way it utilized space. The silo could be built in the center, making it easier to feed all of the animals with far fewer steps. The farmer could move in a tight circle while milking the cows, rather than up and down the length of long diary barns. The centrally located silo also kept the feed from freezing, which was an additional bonus.
The natural round shape was promoted as withstanding high winds better than the traditional shapes. The dome-shaped, self-supporting roof is part of the reason the circular structure is much stronger and it allows for a large unobstructed hay mow.
They went out of style when mechanized machinery became more common. A rectangular barn was a better fit for machinery. When loose hay began to be replaced by square bales a squared off hay mow was needed to store them. Barn cleaners and pipeline milking systems did not fit into the round barn. If a farmer wanted to expand, it was difficult to add on to a round barn. And the round shape that helped the building to withstand winds, offered the animals outside little protection from the wind.
Even though round barns were our of style by about 1927, Algie Shivers continued to build traditional barns, as well as other farm buildings and houses in his the Vernon County area where he had been born.
Algie grew up playing baseball and basketball. According to the LaFarge Epitaph, 1979, in his earlier years, he rode horseback to baseball games where he played all positions except catcher. He continued playing baseball while in college in Missouri. The caption from a picture of the Mount Tabor baseball team reads: Mount Tabor baseball team, c.1905 - Among the States' first integrated baseball team. In the back row, far right, is Marv Shivers. In the front row, the three men to the right are Jimmie Elliot, Algie Shivers, and Ed Shivers. Algie Shivers became known as 'the builder of round barns.'
At age 58 he married Flora Revels Waldron, age 65. They raised three children whose parents were killed. Education was important to Algie. He read a lot and subscribed to the Chicago Tribune. He insisted the three children they raised go to school. He kept a picture of Booker T. Washington hanging in his home.
He kept the family farm running in addition to his carpentry work. He and
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