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Central Illinois is dotted with a characteristic rural building form: a two-story, gambrel-roofed, drive-through structure with a large cross dormer. These buildings are not barns. Rather, they were designed only for grain storage, in strongly built bins the size of rooms on the upper level. Grain is delivered by a wagon unloaded safely out of the weather via a tall chain-and-bucket conveyor with a powerful motor at the top. The long narrow "side aisles" functioned as corncribs. This well-constructed speciman has been rejuvenated for a new life, now containing an artist's studio and art gallery. The fit is a perfect one, with the work spaces below, storage and stairs in the corncribs and the gallery in the grain bins above. New windows bring in generous natural light. The siding pattern and placement of new doors carefully follows the original appearance
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(above) The grainery before remodeling. Despite it's weathered appearance, the structure was sturdily built and in good condition. |
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