Hoffman Round Barn
Also known as: Gentry Round Barn; Gentry Farm; DHR File No. 056-5034
Why it's listed
Rising from a ridgeline pasture east of Wolftown, this twelve-sided round barn is a landmark of Madison County's farmland. Built in 1913 by local carpenter Haywood Montebello "Tiny" Dawson for farm owner T.M. Hoffman, it has post-and-beam framing, a mansard-like standing-seam metal roof, three hay-door dormers and a wooden center silo. Dawson reportedly accepted payment in trade from the flour mill over time. It is one of three nearly identical barns he built, and the only known round barns in Madison and Greene counties. The surrounding farm descends from a 1727 land grant to John Rucker. It includes a family cemetery with graves dating from 1781, a 1941 Colonial Revival farmhouse and a spring box. The farm is still worked by descendants of the families in its chain of title. It is recognized locally for its agricultural history and its vernacular response to the national round barn movement.
Significance in brief: The barn is a rare example of a twelve-sided round barn, one of only three built by local carpenter Haywood Montebello "Tiny" Dawson and the only known round barns in Madison and Greene counties. The farm, part of a 1727 land grant, has remained in continuous agricultural use with its farmstead layout and cemetery little changed. It is considered locally significant for agriculture and architecture.
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 09000242, listed April 20, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4864 Wolftown-Hood Rd., Wolftown |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | April 20, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000242 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | circa 1781-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Haywood Montebello "Tiny" Dawson |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th Century American Movements: Round Barn |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The farm is still worked by family descendants. The barn remains much as built in 1913, apart from replaced first-floor siding, two missing hay doors and a slight lean in the silo and cupola. |
| Acreage | 148.7 |
| Coordinates | 38.34583, -78.33544 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 09000242.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712548
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.