|
NW Iowa | The world’s biggest barn at T-Horseshow Ranch at Leader, Saskatchewan, was demolished in 1921. This barn was built in 1914 by W.T.Smith about 12 miles from Leader and about 1 1/2 miles from the South Saskatchewan River. 32 cars of lumber were used. It took 100 men to build it. The cement mixers received $1.00 per day. The ranch hand received $40.00 a month. There were 2,200 head of cattle and 10,000 sheep on the ranch. Smith died in flu epidemic in 1918. The barn was pulled down in 1920 to pay the mortgage. The barn was 128×400 ft. height 60ft. The following construction materials were used: 875,000 ft lumber, 30,000 sacks of Canada Portland Cement and 60,000 ft of corrugated galvanized iron roofing. There were seven ventilators. The ranch contained 10,000 acres under irrigation and was largest alfalfa and corm farm in Saskatchewan.
When Smith stated he needed a railway carload of nails the wholesaler thought he was joking and did not bother to fill the order.”
It took nearly one million feet of lumber, 30,000 sacks of cement and 60,000 square feet of corrugated galvanized roofing to assemble, according to the provincial archive record.
“Smith always did things on a big scale,” Leader’s local historian writes.
(Courtesy: Town of Leader)
Smith established the ranch around 1868 after travelling west from Manitoba in a covered wagon looking for land near a lake or river.
Through a combination of ambition, credit and government policy granting huge swaths of First Nations territory to incoming settlers — Smith’s operation grew from a homestead ranch with about 400 horses to a 10,000-acre operation with 2,000 horses, 1,600 mules and 10,000 sheep.
Using his livestock as collateral, Smith secured a loan of $82,000 in Maple Creek to pay for the construction. Leader’s historian writes that Smith put the cash in a gunny sack, threw it under the seat of his wagon and headed home.
When it opened, it may also have been the site of the continent’s largest barn dance at the time, the historian says.
“It took two orchestras to provide the music in the huge loft, which was nearly as long as a city block. The cooks had been busy for days providing the food.”
Smith reportedly employed a massive staff at his ranch — up to 140 people with a monthly payroll of up to $7,000.
Unfortunately, Smith did not live long after the construction of his monument. Shortly after its completion, he became ill. He died in 1918 at 73-years-old.
According to the Saskatchewan Archives record on the barn, it was dismantled in 1920 after Smith’s estate settled and his assets were auctioned off. Some of the lumber was sold to merchants building in towns along the nearby CP rail line.
Now, all that remains are remnants of the building’s foundation and a model of the structure that sits in the centre of town.
Leader is located nearly 300 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon.
Edited by Massey1155 8/25/2024 16:37
 (93bb2130c70b402781230c7e68ad0e86 (full).jpg)
 (w-t--smith-barn-1-6691246-1702846553623 (full).png)
Attachments
----------------
 93bb2130c70b402781230c7e68ad0e86 (full).jpg (133KB - 47 downloads)
w-t--smith-barn-1-6691246-1702846553623 (full).png (75KB - 60 downloads)
| |
|
Anybody from Canada know about the Smith Barn that was built in 1914
