Kleinkopf, Clarence, Round Barn
Why it's listed
This round barn, 56 feet in diameter, sits north of Colchester in McDonough County, Illinois. Built in 1915 by local carpenter Dick Carmack for George Welch, it rests on a poured concrete foundation and is covered in horizontal wooden siding beneath a single-hip roof of wooden shingles. A metal ventilator rises 40 feet above grade. The main entrance faces west, with secondary entrances on the south and northwest. A central wooden silo requires a semi-circular driveway between the entrances, and the haymow begins at roof level and runs three-quarters of the way around the interior. The barn is reported to be in excellent condition, with all of its original materials and no alterations. It was listed as a representative Illinois example of a building type. It is also the lone survivor of three round barns that Carmack built within a two-mile radius, which adds to its local importance. The nominated area is a circle 90 feet across, centered on the barn.
Significance in brief: The barn is considered significant as a representative Illinois example that embodies the characteristics of a type. It is also the only survivor of three round barns Carmack built within a two-mile radius. It retains all of its original materials and has not been altered.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002586, listed August 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Colchester, Colchester |
|---|---|
| County | McDonough County |
| Listed | August 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002586 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Dick Carmack |
| Architectural style | Round Barn |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, with all original building materials and no alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.45513, -90.81135 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002586.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5126628
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.