Otte, Dennis, Round Barn
Why it's listed
Southeast of the village of Eleroy in Stephenson County, Illinois, a round barn 54 feet across was built in 1930 by Herman Altenbern for Carl Richards, whose father had already had a round barn constructed. It sits on a poured concrete foundation and has horizontal wooden siding, a single-hip roof of wooden shingles and a squat cupola. The east entrance opens at grade into a central passage that divides the interior in two. Stalls are arranged in semicircles on each side, separated by a mix of hewn and sawed posts that support a circular loft plate. Roof rafters are braced with 2-by-6 members nailed on opposite sides. The loft floor uses reclaimed material, possibly old barn siding. The barn is listed as the last design variation in the area's round barn tradition. Its reused materials reflect the economies of Depression-era construction, and its design and materials remain original.
Significance in brief: The barn is argued to embody the last design variation in the round barn tradition of the Stephenson County area. It matches the area's second design phase, with a squat cupola and a single-hip roof with special braces. Its salvaged materials in the loft piers, plate and flooring reflect the economies of Depression-era construction.
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 84001164, listed February 23, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Eleroy, Eleroy |
|---|---|
| County | Stephenson County |
| Listed | February 23, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001164 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Herman Altenbern |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form states that the design and materials of the barn are original. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.33368, -89.73799 (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 84001164.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5258821
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.