This early barn, built around 1905 by August Riemenschneider, was a wonderful home for his draft horses and driving horses, then later for cattle. Located in Marshall County in the northeast corner of State Center, it is just several hundred feet north of the rail line running east and west. August was a livestock buyer, and the train that sped by daily stopped to pick up cattle to ship to Chicago. (1931 photo courtesy of Craig and Mary Pfantz)
August and Josephine Riemenschneider also built a lovely Victorian house in 1904, not visible here. After the Riemenschneiders died, the farm changed hands several times before great-grandson Craig Pfantz and his wife Mary purchased the farm in 1994. The barn was in poor condition, thus the restoration process was long and expensive. It is now in pristine condition and is used for storage. (2012 photo below) A longer story about this barn can be found on page 113 of Iowa Barns yesterday and today.
