The World's Largest Barn (1900-1935)
Much has been written about this structure which was a landmark
for travelers up the Platte Valley for over thirty years. Designed by Ohio State University Professor
Oscar Erf, it was to be the first third of a 1,200-cow unit. Even at one-third its intended size,
it was indeed an imposing structure. Owner Henry David Watson wanted to build the entire 1,200-cow
unit but was persuaded against it by Professor Erf.
For all its spectacular prominence, the number of conflicting statements that can be found in
accounts detailing the size of the structure is surprising. Pictures of the structure attest to
its great size and the figures most commonly used are 300 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 56 feet
high at the south end. It was built into the side of a hill so that teams of horses pulling loads
of hay could be driven into the second floor from east or west at the north end of the structure.
Nine hundred tons of hay could be stored on this level. Connected to the north end of the barn
was a silo which held over 1,000 tons of silage.
Descriptions of the first floor vary even more. Such statements as "individual stalls for 200
to 300 cows" is common, while others put the figure as high as 400. There are also accounts which
state there was room on the first floor for calves and the horses needed in the dairy work, in
addition to that for the dairy cows. All feed was distributed—and all was refuse removed—in
trolly cars.
[This information comes from any of the following sources: an unpublished masters thesis, H. D. Watson and His Agricultural Experiment, written by Floyd A. Miller; items in Kearney, Lincoln, and Omaha newspapers; a letter written by Will C. Scoutt to Floyd Miller; and data provided by Albert Kjar.]