Documentation of the Danish Brick Barn and the Log Cabin

Stone, Jim

From preface: "This book starts with the history of southeastern Dakota Territory from 1804, when it was still Sioux Indian Territory. It tells a story of treaties, moving the Indians farther west and opening this area to homesteaders. A prominent Yankton Sioux Indian plays a very important role in the process... In 2009 the farmstead was sold by the descendents of Calle Nissen Johnsen. The new owners decided to install a pivot irrigation system in response to the 2012 drought. The brick barn was in the path of the irrigation system and this barn had to be moved or be demolished. This barn is believed to be the last "Danish" brick barn in the area. The farmstead was placed on the National Historical Register in 1999 with the "Danish" brick barn and the log cabin featured as the prominent buildings. The first part of this book is a record with history, construction drawings, descriptions of how the barn was constructed and photographs of the barn, to preserve a record of a historical barn that is gone forever. The second part of this book is about the log cabin. Again, there are more histories written by descendents of Calle Nissen Johnsen. Some of these histories will repeat parts already mentioned earlier. Please bear with the stories, as they also contain additional interesting accounts of the early pioneer life. The log cabin is unique because 12" vertical board siding was installed on this cabin many years ago and later lean-tos were added on three sides. The logs have been protected from the weather all this time and are in very good condition. This part of the book also contains histories, construction drawings, illustrating how the cabin was constructed and photographs to preserve a record of this log cabin." Funding for this project was provided in part through a fiscal year 2013 Historic Preservation Fund grant to Clay County (project number SD-13-017) administered by the South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office (grant number P13AF00027) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Clay County, South Dakota is a Certified Local Government.

Documentation of the Danish Brick Barn and the Log Cabin

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