West Bend, WI – Are you following local speedskating superstar Jordan Stolz of Kewaskum?This year TheBikeWriTer.com will be documenting its bicycle tour from Salt Lake City, Utah.
A stunning example of farm history sits to the right of the highway leading into downtown Park City, Utah. The historic McPolin Farmstead is a local landmark and highly photographed as the majestic white barn has watched the world grow around it since 1921.
The barn and other out buildings are locked tight however the public is invited to roam the grounds and relish in stories about a simpler time told through farming equipment and a glimpse through a barn window.
Below is my best attempt to channel West Bend historian Dave Bohn and describe recollections of farming shared in information stations on the grounds.
The massive “Improvement-Era” barn was built around 1920 by Daniel and Isabel McPolin.
It measures 100‘ x 35‘ and was made partially of recycled timber salvaged from the old mining mill building.
The timbers were fitted together without the use of nails and have withstood hard winters.
The barn has a combined use of hay storage, livestock and dairy operations all under the 7,468-square-foot structure.
The barns gambrel roof allowed for maximum storage of hay on the second floor and openings through the floor provided easy delivery of feed to the cows below.
Two parallel rows of stanchions held the cows during milking and feeding and a wide center aisle provided minimum obstruction for animals as they entered and left the barn.
In the days before refrigeration pond ice was cut in blocks and stored in layers of hay beneath the barn floor for use.
In 1953 the concrete milk parlor was added to the front of the building and two concrete silos built at the back to store grain
The hay elevator – once the hay had been cut, raked and allowed to dry it was bailed.
The baler ejected the bales on the ground and the finished product had to be picked up and hauled to the barn for storage.
This hay elevator would’ve made that process much easier by doing the heavy, lifting. The elevator was attached to the side of a flatbed truck or a wagon with the bottom end face forward.
The elevator scooped up the bales and… Click HERE to read the rest of the story.
This year’s bicycle tour is intended to highlight previous Winter Olympics as we head into the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
Local speed skater Jordan Stolz is expected to compete in four events in 2026 and if you would like to be part of Team Jordan feel free to pledge your support by using the QR code below courtesy the Dan Jansen Foundation.
Jansen’s foundation is a 501c3 and he’s agreed to donate 100% of all support noted to Jordan Stolz. Be part of Team Stolz today.