Arcadia Round Barn
by Susan McMenamin
Title
Arcadia Round Barn
Artist
Susan McMenamin
Medium
Photograph
Description
Arcadia Round Barn - Sitting atop a low terrace overlooking the Deep Fork River, the Round Barn in Arcadia has been a center of community activity and curiosity for over a century. William Harrison "Big Bill" Odor arrived in Oklahoma County in 1892, and shortly after, in 1898, oxen cleared the ground for construction of his barn. He built a barn 60 feet in diameter and 43 feet high with a local red Permian rock foundation. Local burr oak timbers were soaked in water until soft and then banded into the mold to create the rafters. Mr. Odor apparently designed the barn himself, though no one knows how he chose the round design.
After its construction was completed in 1898, the barn housed hay, grain, and livestock, but almost from the start, it served as a community center. During the barn's construction, three young workers, realizing what a fine place it would be for dances, persuaded Mr. Odor to let them pay the difference between planed rough flooring and hardwood, which was more suitable for dancing. From time to time for the next 25 years, barn dances drew crowds and musicians to Arcadia from a wide area. Mr. Odor compared the barn's acoustics with those of the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, and it became a popular rallying point while Arcadia flourished.
With the U.S. Highway 66 alignment through Arcadia in 1928, travelers along the Mother Road were only a stone's throw from the architectural curiosity. The barn quickly became a Route 66 landmark.
Uploaded
September 19th, 2016
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Viewed 454 Times - Last Visitor from Little Rock, AR on 04/17/2024 at 6:57 AM
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Comments (3)
Benanne Stiens
Wow, what a cool barn! It is the first round barn that I have ever seen. Great find!
Susan McMenamin replied:
So glad you enjoyed it, Benanne! Believe it or not, I just happened to come along this little gem while I was trying to take in a little bit of Route 66. Really didn't expect to see that myself... but glad I did!
William Tasker
This is so very cool! And again, I loved the description as I have a very high curiosity. L/F
Susan McMenamin replied:
I thought it was pretty cool, too. You don't see many barns like that anymore. Thanks again!