Welcome to Loyal, Indiana
Living History Village
1900-1925

Leedy - Partridge - Paxton Round Barn

Leedy - Partridge - Paxton Round BarnThis round barn was built in 1924 by Bert
Leedy. He had a regular rectangular barn that was struck by lightning in Oct. and
burned to the ground. So he needed a new barn fast because he had livestock
and cows to milk. His brother Ezra had built a round barn a few years before and
must have told him it was a good thing. Round barns were advertised as faster,
easier and cheaper to build. Forty neighbors came to help mix and pour the
concrete floor and side walls. Then C.V. Kindig Construction Company built the
wooden part of the barn, with only 2 to 4 men working at a time. It was done by
Christmas. Kindigs built several of Fulton County's 17 round barns.

Harold Partridge owned the round barn 1972-75. He died in the round barn after a
heart attack while working on a lawn mower motor in the hayloft at the entrance at
the top of the ramp.

The next owner was Larry Paxton. A tornado took the roof off this barn Sept. 1,
1989. Paxton donated it to the Fulton County Historical Society because Fulton
County is the Round Barn Capital of the World and had only 9 round barns left.
The barn was moved and restored in 1990-91, with most of the work done by Fred
Carr. FCHS got a loan of $40,000 from Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.
But it took $65,000 to move and reconstruct the barn. The barn was paid for with
donations from many people. Now it is a museum with farm equipment and tools.
It is open year around Monday - Saturday from 9 to 5.
Fulton County Historical Society Museums
Fulton County Historical Society
Located in North Central Indiana
Loyal, Indiana
Living History Village
1920-1925