After 133 years of use, the Deardorff barn still exists as a home for Angus cattle. Dave Deardorff, a great-grandson, and his wife Sheila, the owners, treasure this farm and its history.
In 1889 the farm was purchased by Mahlon and Sarah Deardorff, and in 1892, 70 men helped Dave’s great grand-father, Mahlon, build this barn, originally intended for horses but also providing space for dairy cows, grain bins and hay. In the Yale newspaper at the time it was completed indicated that a fitting celebration was held: “a sumptuous dinner was followed by cigars and lemonade.”
On July 28,1990, one hundred years of farm ownership was celebrated with a summer picnic held at the farm for over 350 friends and relatives, featuring sweet corn from their garden. Everyone was given a red hat and a cup that said “Century Farm.”
The above photo was taken 45 years ago when the barn was 88 years old. The photo below, taken in 2015, when it was 133 years old, shows changes in the logo and the addition of steel siding.
The barn is featured in an article in the June 2025 Panora Times, along with several other barns in Guthrie County. A story can also be found in Iowa Barns yesterday and today on page 23.
