Bruce, James, Round Barn
Why it's listed
Near Freeport in Stephenson County, Illinois, a round barn built in 1914 for George Bruce survives with its original design intact. The barn measures 58 feet 8 inches across and is clad in horizontal wooden drop siding, a locally popular type, over a poured concrete foundation. A single hip roof topped by a cupola is strengthened by paired 2 by 6 inch braces nailed to the rafters. A 12-foot wooden stave silo stands at the center and is reached from the loft. Diagonal overshoots above the south and northeast entrances give some protection from the weather. Jeremiah Shaffer and the Haas brothers built it, and it is the last round barn known to come from their partnership, which probably produced many of the county's round barns. The central silo and braced hip roof show how local round barn design developed, with the hip roof adapting the earlier conical roof the team had used. Only the roofing has been replaced.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the last round barn known to have been built by the Shaffer and Haas team, who probably built many of Stephenson County's round barns. Its central silo and braced single-hip roof show how round barn design evolved in the area. The hipped roof adapts the earlier conical roof the team had used.
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 84001157, listed February 23, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Freeport, Freeport |
|---|---|
| County | Stephenson County |
| Listed | February 23, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001157 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Jeremiah Shaffer and the Haas brothers |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as retaining original materials in excellent condition, with only the wooden shingles replaced by asphalt shingles and the original design intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.25202, -89.64924 (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 84001157.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6130386
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.