Iowa Barns and Silos

ByMNBricks

I know that Iowa is famous for its agriculture.  When I think of Iowa, I think of vast cornfields like those in the famous “Field of Dreams” movie.  Along with its agricultural heritage comes its heritage of barns and silos.  Around the turn of the century and into the first half of the 1900s, Iowa clay was extensively used to make brick and tile.  Mason City itself had nine brick and tile plants.  This brick and tile industry is still visible today in the old barns and silos that dot the Iowa landscape.

I recently made a trip to Iowa to see for myself the great old silos and barns that make Iowa famous even today.  I was specifically looking for barns and silos made from Iowa clay.  However, I was quite disappointed.  I only found one near Clear Lake, Iowa, which I know was made by the Mason City brickyards.  I am hoping to reach out to people across Iowa to write me and let me know where more of these old gems are.  The silos made by the Mason City brickyards were called “Everlasting Silos.”

If you live in Iowa, please check out my Mason City brick information.  On the Mason City page, just go down to the information section and look at my Everlasting Silo page.  This should give you an idea of what one looked like.  I am really hoping that people will write me and let me know where some great old brick silos and barns are in Iowa.  There may be quite a few more out there, I just need some help to find some.  Please write me and let me know where to look!

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2 Comments

  1. You have excellent information on your blog about historic clay tile silos, and their advantages. What is missing is any information regarding current manufacture. Does any company offer new, hollow structural silo tile for sale? Can you give me a list of suppliers?

  2. I live north of Clear Lake, IA and am a fan of silos and barns. I found your site after Googling ACO silos. I work part time for Farm News out of Fort Dodge IA. Each year we do a barn section for one barn out of each of Farm News 33 counties of coverage, approximately northwest 1/3 of Iowa. You can see it at http://www.farm-news.com/page/category.detail/nav/5073/2011-Barns-of-Iowa.html

    I believe I can tell you where another Everlasting Silo is. I will get a photo of it as it is only about 10 miles north of here. I am also a serious amateur photographer so taking a
    picture of a silo is a treat for me.

    I am 64 years old, grew up on a farm and live on my family’s Century Farm that my great grandfather bought in 1875.

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