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OSU Buildings Histories in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center

Building History

A black and white image of the Dairy Barn.

 

 

Designed by architect John Bennes and his colleagues in 1907, construction of the first Dairy Barn was completed in 1909. With a cement foundation and brick columns, the two-story main building measured 50 by 100 feet and the two, single-story adjoining wings measured 46 by 80 feet each. The barn also included a milk room, engine and fuel rooms, and a "concrete basement for the storage of roots." Up to 70 cows (and 9 horses) could be housed in the east wing of the building, and the concrete floors were specially outfitted with traps and drains to allow for easy cleaning.

After a new dairy barn was built in 1937-38, the structure became the Agricultural Utilities Building. Over the next fifty years, it was utilized by several departments (Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture, Computer Science) and the USDA. It was razed in 1989 to make way for the Agricultural and Life Sciences Building. Pillars from the original barn structure are still visible in the basement of the new building.

General Information

Address

2750 SW Campus Way

Architect

John Bennes

Year Built

1909

Renovations

Unknown

Square Footage

12,360 square feet

Purpose/Usage

Agriculture and farming

Previous Name(s)

N/A

Namesake

Functional

Historic District

Yes, OSU National Historic District

Blueprints

Facilities Services Records 1888-2010, Folder 174 XX. Campus and Farm Maps, 1914-1921

Maps

Facilities Services Records 1888-2010, Folder 174 XX. Campus and Farm Maps, 1914-1921

Photographs

See further archival information section

 

Further Archival Information

SCARC: The Special Collections and Archives Research Center holds some collections pertaining to the Dairy Barn, including a partial architectural drawing of the barn, photographs, and university records. The general catalogue from the 1908-1909 academic year includes a description of the newly constructed building.

Oregon Digital: The website contains some photographic and textual documents pertaining to the Dairy Barn.

Map