J. F. Roberts Octagonal Barn, Octagonal barn in Rea, Missouri, United States.
The J. F. Roberts Octagonal Barn is a two-story wooden structure with an eight-sided hipped roof rising from its center. The interior framing system uses posts and beams arranged to create open space for storing hay, grain, and other farm materials.
Columbus Hobson designed this structure in 1900 as an innovative agricultural building. The Clark family later adopted it for raising Aberdeen Angus cattle starting in 1946.
The eight-sided shape reflects a farming philosophy from that era, when this design was seen as a smart way to manage agricultural work. It shows how farmers of the time incorporated practical thinking into their building choices.
The barn sits at the intersection of MO B and MO 48, making it easy to find when driving through the area. The property is small enough to view from the road or walk around in just a few minutes.
The interior reveals a carefully engineered post and beam system that created more usable space than traditional rectangular barns. This efficient layout allowed farmers to house more livestock and store larger harvests in one building.
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