DID YOU KNOW?

Joseph Leiter constructed two large barns in Zeigler

1) Dairy Barn

2) Horn Barn 

  In 1904, after the Zeigler No. 1 mine went into production, Joseph Leiter directed engineer L.V. Rice to begin developing the town of Zeigler , which was to be modeled after the nation's capital, Washington , D.C. First, a company store that would supply provisions for the miners was constructed, afterward; living quarters for the miners were built. Finally, other structures were erected, such as schools, hospital, parks, and the coal company headquarters.

>Click on Pictures for a Larger View<

Dairy Barn	Horn Barn

Photos Courtesy of  County Seat Antique Mall located on the square in Benton, Illinois.

Photos taken From the book "History of Franklin County - Centennial Edition" circa 1918

  By 1905, Leiter ordered that his farming operation should move forward in order that he might supply the miners with fresh provisions - locally grown. With that directive, two massive barns were raised for Leiter to utilize in his farm operation. The first barn, known as the Dairy Barn, was located on property that now lies between Rannie Snider's home and that of the late John Tolbert . This enormous barn was to be the hub of the Leiter dairy industry.

  The second immense barn, located north and northwest of the Orchard and Coxspur Streets intersection, was the most modern of its time. This structure was commonly known as the Horn Barn and it operated as the heart of the meat-producing center. The earliest Short-horn Barn was built in 1904 and Leiter followed the modern trend and built his Hereford Barn in 1905.

The Horn Barn and the Dairy Barn were very similar in size and appearance. The differences in the two structures were the number of ventilators located on the roof of the building, the Dairy Barn had two and the Horn Barn had three, and an attached silo. Leiter approved a silo for the Horn Barn, but one was not connected to the Dairy Barn.

The reason for the destruction of the Horn Barn is not known at this time, but it may surface in the near future. Check the web site often.

Information provided by Dr. Allan Patton and the County Seat Antique Mall of Benton Illinois.

Many of the pictures on this site are located on books
and CD's located on the Zeigler's Memorabilia page

Thanks to those who have contributed pictures and memorabilia that is viewed on this site.