Historical Sites - Moody Barn

The last round barn in Chisago County

This farm building is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The Moody
farm was homesteaded in 1871 by Swedish immigrants Elof and Eva Modig.
They paid $1.25 an acre for the site located about five miles south of Chisago
City on Lofton Avenue. There they grew wheat and raised five children.

The early 1870's were difficult times for farmers. It was a time of fierce winters,
of summer grasshopper / locust plagues, and of a fever epidemic that
incapacitated many horses. These animals were the primary means of
transportation, crop planting, and harvesting in that era. The hardships, crop
failures, and misfortunes lead to many related bank failures.

By 1878 almost 70% of the tilled areas in Minnesota were in wheat production.
The state's "patent flour" was being sold throughout the East and Europe.

By the 1890's, farms began to diversify. Farmers experimented with cheese
and butter factories and cooperative creameries were the rage. One of the
Moody sons, Charles, saw the wave of the future and in 1915 built a modern
"round" dairy barn on the edge of the lake knonw today as Moody Lake.
Instead of the traditional red and white colors, he painted the new barn a
blue-gray color and it has been a distinct landmark ever since.

The barn measures 56 feet in diameter and is about the same dimension in
height. It is built on two levels - the main floor for milk cows and their calves
and the loft area for storing hay. There is a 42 foot high silo located inside. The
total cost was $3,200. Seven men labored for $1 a day plus meals during its
construction.

The Moody farmhouse was originally located on the west side of Lofton Avenue.
In 2004 it was acquired by the Chisago County Historical Society and moved
to the opposite side of the road. The 1920 Arts and Craft house is undergoing a
major restoration so it can be opened to the public soon. A new roof is the next
project to be completed. The barn has already been reshingled and painted.

Both the house and the barn are second generation buildings replacing the
original house and barn on the property. Although these buildings have been
saved from demolition they are no longer an operational farmstead. Instead,
they are the focal point of a new 25 acre park. You can read more about the
efforts to save and restore these buildings in an article written by Carol
Dahlquist which appeared in the March 2009 issue of the Chisago Heritage
Journal magazine.

The Moody Round Barn is open by appointment for tours during warm weather
months. To schedule a tour, please call 651-257-5310 or email the office.