A walk around the Cobblestone Barn
A week ago, on my afternoon off, I took a very cold walk around the cobblestone barn at Finnegan's RV. This is one of those times (issues) where a photo or two or three is worth more than words. (Tip: On the non-closeups, you can click on most of the photos to see a larger version, hosted on Flickr.)
The place is not in the best condition, it's not even particularly original anymore, but...
Links to Beloit Daily News articles about this property:
Finnegans' RV Center to sell Beloit property
Posted: Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007 - By Krista Brown - Daily News staff writer
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2007/12/18/news/news06.txt
Only chance for the barn? Buy it and move it, city says
Posted: Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 - By Debra Jensen-De Hart - Features Editor
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2007/12/20/news/news02.txt
A piece of pioneer Beloit
Posted: Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 - By Debra Jensen-DeHart - Features Editor
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2007/12/20/news/news01.txt
Developer willing to let barn be disassembled
Posted: Saturday, Dec 22, 2007 - By Debra Jensen-De Hart - Features Editor
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2007/12/22/news/news05.txt
The place is not in the best condition, it's not even particularly original anymore, but...
- It has character.
- It is contemporaneous with the founding of Beloit
- It has a context related to one of the original settlers of the city itself.
- It predates the State of Wisconsin.
- The cobbles came from nearby Turtle Creek (or so the legend goes).
A wreck waiting to happen or will it be saved?
Here is a view of the south side of the building,
note that on the left you can just make out
the west side of the building.
Nothing on the west side of the building is original.
It is made from commercial lumber, and uses
standard 2x4 and siding for construction. As such,
I didn't spend much time documenting the west
end of the building.
And now for some close ups of the south side
that show extensive cracking, poor repairs,
and unstable substructure to walls.
And now... on to the East side (end) of the barn:
And now... on to the North side of the barn. So far this
is the only side featured in photographs accompanying
newspaper article(s).
Click on the photo and you will be able to see
my notes on it on its Flickr page:
And again:
Close up from the center of the North side:
Original cobblestone, original matrix, on north side of building.
(Compare with other views and repaired areas.)
As it sits, the barn is just about where the new Walgreens will have its pharmacy. So... the barn remaining in its current place doesn't seem an option.
How about moving the barn down the block, to the nearby park? Hmmmm... possible? It doesn't look like the structure could withstand such a move, but who knows? It looks very heavy... those walls are thick! Anyone with enough money to make this happen better step forward at double time pace (IOW, right now)! How much would it cost and who pay to keep it safe and sound after it gets moved?
How about re-using the building's cobblestone walls? How about using them as landscaping, or as part of the new building's facade, or as adornment on the lot of the new Walgreens store? As you can see, the walls are thick, cutting through them to move and use the slabs in some other purpose doesn't look terribly easy. I'm sure Walgreens has corporate standards for building aesthetics, safety, design, liability, and cost. I doubt the use of three liberated sides from the old cobblestone barn would be compatible with any of their business considerations, but it'd be nice to be wrong.
Here is a view of the south side of the building,
note that on the left you can just make out
the west side of the building.
Nothing on the west side of the building is original.
It is made from commercial lumber, and uses
standard 2x4 and siding for construction. As such,
I didn't spend much time documenting the west
end of the building.
And now for some close ups of the south side
that show extensive cracking, poor repairs,
and unstable substructure to walls.
And now... on to the East side (end) of the barn:
And now... on to the North side of the barn. So far this
is the only side featured in photographs accompanying
newspaper article(s).
Click on the photo and you will be able to see
my notes on it on its Flickr page:
And again:
Close up from the center of the North side:
Original cobblestone, original matrix, on north side of building.
(Compare with other views and repaired areas.)
As it sits, the barn is just about where the new Walgreens will have its pharmacy. So... the barn remaining in its current place doesn't seem an option.
How about moving the barn down the block, to the nearby park? Hmmmm... possible? It doesn't look like the structure could withstand such a move, but who knows? It looks very heavy... those walls are thick! Anyone with enough money to make this happen better step forward at double time pace (IOW, right now)! How much would it cost and who pay to keep it safe and sound after it gets moved?
How about re-using the building's cobblestone walls? How about using them as landscaping, or as part of the new building's facade, or as adornment on the lot of the new Walgreens store? As you can see, the walls are thick, cutting through them to move and use the slabs in some other purpose doesn't look terribly easy. I'm sure Walgreens has corporate standards for building aesthetics, safety, design, liability, and cost. I doubt the use of three liberated sides from the old cobblestone barn would be compatible with any of their business considerations, but it'd be nice to be wrong.
Links to Beloit Daily News articles about this property:
Finnegans' RV Center to sell Beloit property
Posted: Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007 - By Krista Brown - Daily News staff writer
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2007/12/18/news/news06.txt
Only chance for the barn? Buy it and move it, city says
Posted: Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 - By Debra Jensen-De Hart - Features Editor
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2007/12/20/news/news02.txt
A piece of pioneer Beloit
Posted: Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 - By Debra Jensen-DeHart - Features Editor
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2007/12/20/news/news01.txt
Developer willing to let barn be disassembled
Posted: Saturday, Dec 22, 2007 - By Debra Jensen-De Hart - Features Editor
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2007/12/22/news/news05.txt
2008-01-07 04:28:44 GMT
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