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Americana #20 - The Innovation Dairy Barn in Manassas

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Executives

The Innovation Barn on Route 28

The first 25 years of the 20th century saw tremendous growth in Prince William County dairy farms as farmers switched from corn and grains to supply the increasing demand in the Washington, DC area. This was especially true in the Manassas area.

W. T. Thomasson purchased 39.5 acres in 1905 at the junction of what is now Route 28 and the Prince William County Parkway. To put it in perspective his holdings increased to 452 acres at the time of his death in 1950.

Since dairy barns were notoriously hard to keep clean at the time, "WT" designed the barn above - it had a second floor for hay, a rounded roof to minimize the need for supporting joists, oak flooring on the first floor plus second level windows and roof vents to improve air circulation.. The two silos and barn walls were made of hollow terra cotta instead of brick.

Today, the former pasture land has been commercially developed, surrounding the barn which is now owned by the Prince William County government.


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The Kruschkas are long term Prince William County residents with 36 years experience as real estate brokers serving Woodbridge, Manassas, Dumfries, Manassas Park, Bristow, Brentsville, Gainesville and Haymarket.

Experience Isn’t Expensive – It’s PRICELESS

If you plan to buy or sell a Prince William County home or property contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-499-9279. Put our record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

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Comments(28)

Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Tony  Unlike a lot of "armchair bloggers" we like to investigate our surroundings

Sep 28, 2012 06:46 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Jackie  We enjoyed the opportunity to present it

Sep 28, 2012 06:47 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Rebecca  I suspect you have driven past it

Sep 28, 2012 06:48 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Nick  As the daughter of an Illinois farmer I understand perfectly

Sep 28, 2012 06:50 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing your photograph and this local history lesson.

Have an outstanding weekend.

Sep 28, 2012 07:30 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Roy  I always enjoy posting about local history

Sep 28, 2012 07:34 AM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566
That is the coolest photo. I like the history lesson that accompanies it. Neat!
Sep 28, 2012 11:42 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living
Karen, that is one of the most unusual barns I've seen. Thank you for sharing, I'm glad this building and with it it's history is being preserved.
Sep 28, 2012 11:43 AM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Karen,

Beautiful structure - nice history to go along with it. :)

Steve

Sep 28, 2012 03:49 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Cheryl  Thank you very much

Sep 28, 2012 11:23 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Silvia  It was called Innovation Barn since it was a protype of future barns

Sep 28, 2012 11:24 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Steve The materials insure low maintenance and lasting brilliance - that barn is almost 100 years old

Sep 28, 2012 11:27 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Karen I always look forward to the history behind many of your photos.   This is a beautiful barn and I am glad it was preserved.

Sep 29, 2012 03:18 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Karen I always look forward to the history behind many of your photos.   This is a beautiful barn and I am glad it was preserved.

Sep 29, 2012 03:18 PM
Wayne Johnson
Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Karen and Art-It is always interesting to note the ingenious designs from years past. They had to make calculations and tools without the benefit of calculations from computers.

Sep 29, 2012 11:29 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Jennifer  We lalso learn by preparing for these posts

Sep 30, 2012 12:31 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Jennifer We believe there is more to it than just snapping a picture

Sep 30, 2012 12:32 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Wayne  It is even more impressive when you consider the really amazing structures throughout the world built many, many centuries ago

Sep 30, 2012 12:36 AM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Karen,

Congratulations. Your post is also featured in the group "Americana." :)

Steve

Oct 01, 2012 02:54 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Steve  Thank you for the support

Oct 02, 2012 12:40 AM