FAIRFIELD, Iowa – Maasdam Barns contains agricultural architectural history, Percheron horse history and other local farm history in the barns that have been restored by Maasdam Barns Preservation Committee. There are a series of barns to view on this historical property that has been converted to a tourist, recreation and education center. The barns are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The story begins with Jacob Maasdam. Leaving Pella, Iowa, in 1906, with his son William, the two made their initial move to Jefferson County, traveling for two days with 47 Percheron horses, and one Shetland pony. After establishing his Percheron farm, in 1910 Maasdam purchased more property from Ellsworth Turney. Turney was famous in his own right as the manufacturer of Charter Oak Wagons. There is one of the Turney wagons on exhibit in the Stallion Barn today.

Turney rebuilt his barn using stone and hand-hewn lumber from the previous owner, John C. Ricky, who had homesteaded the property in 1852. This barn was later known as the Show Barn, or the Milking Barn.

Calling his farm “Evergreen Ridge Stock Farm,” Maasdam built a mare and a stallion barn, and a house. The Stallion Barn was built in 1910, they think using barn plans from Louden Machinery Co., a company that was started right there in Fairfield, Iowa. The subsequent Mare Barn had eight stalls and housed more horses than the Stallion Barn.

While living in Pella, Jacob Maasdam had partnered with veterinarian Edward Wheeler. In 1915, they sold their first pure-bred Scotch Shorthorn cattle. In 1918, they dissolved their partnership, only to rejoin together in 1931 as the Iowa Horse Importing Co. Jacob Maasdam’s stock horse business was put on the map in 1919, when his mare Amoretta was named World Champion at the International Livestock Show in Chicago, Ill.

In 1935, it is reported that they imported the world’s largest Belgian, Louis d’Or. There is a wonderful sign of the horse on the property. This May, a group of Midwest Travel Bloggers took time to pose with this horse, unable to believe the size. In 2008, the stallion was made the picture on a coin in Belgium.

The Maasdam’s sold the farm to Glenn and June Gorman in 1950. In 1973, the farm was sold to the Gorman’s son-in-law, Ralph Leathers.

Changes in farming had reduced the need for horse farming. Then, when the Iowa Department of Transportation needed a portion of the farmstead for a bypass, they purchased the farm. Thanks to a group of volunteers, they found that a portion of the farm was eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, that portion of the farm was then gifted to the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors.  In 2005, the Maasdam Barns Preservation Committee was formed, and they began restoration of the Stallion Barn. Opened 2011, they have been open ever since. The property is listed on the National Register under the name, “The Evergreen Ridge Stock Farm Historic District.”

Due to some construction the property is only open on a limited basis currently. For a tour, call 641-472-2828, or contact Terry Baker at Visit Fairfield. The bloggers that came to tour the property were led by a volunteer named Tony.

Tony shared that he started volunteering when he stopped to talk to an 80-year-old retired doctor who was painting. Thinking he may need a bit of help, the next thing he knew he was named chairman of the group. “And here I am,” he joked.

Tony showed the writers the barn, and the extensive array of Louden items in the barn. William Louden is famous because he invented a pulley and hay track to put loose hay in a barn. Louden then went on to create barn plans to help sell his pulley and track designs. There are several Louden inventions in this lovely old barn. “Henry Ford saw the liter carrier at a trade show, and after that, it was used extensively in industry,” Tony added.

“Louden constantly evolved. They probably had 25 hay trolley patents. They also developed the rotary dairy set up,” Tony said. To accomplish this, they purchased a merry go round company and this purchase moved them into the playground business. Loudon equipment, distinctly the Louden Monorail, was included in material handling devices used in the manufacture of the first atomic bomb at Oak Ridge, Tenn., and for material handling in a B-29 bomber plant in Marietta, Ga.

The older generation has remained helpful in sharing how to install and keep equipment running at the property. Tony told a story about two gentlemen, one 94, who were watching the volunteers mess up a Louden trolley line. “Those guys told us what we did wrong when something broke,” Tony said.

The day the writers were there, a group of 3rd graders was coming out to plant pumpkins. The educational aspect of the property is a wonderful thing. “We show them how to shell corn, and grind it for feed,” Tony said.

In the past they have planted using the corn check system. There is a nice array of items on display sharing agricultural history, Louden history, and the wonderful agricultural architecture, plus the Percheron story. Together they make this an agricultural gem. Visit https://jeffersoncounty.iowa.gov/barns/ for more information.