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Prairie Architects, Inc. |
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Owner: Swedish Heritage Society Project Scope: Restoration |
Swedish Huckster Barn Swedesburg, Iowa |
Swedish Huckster Barn |
During the late 19th Century, many country stores employed hucksters -- salesmen who traveled around the county in a wagon selling merchandise to nearby rural farmers. The huckster's wagon was stored at night in a barn near the country store, and the salesman made his home in the loft above the wagon. Such a building was known as a huckster barn. The Swedish Huckster Barn in the tiny Swedish-American community of Swedesburg, Iowa follows this historical pattern. Prairie Architects guided the restoration of this barn for use as a historical museum, housing a reconstructed huckster wagon; the loft has been restored to portray a huckster's late-19th century living quarters. The project was underwritten by the US Department of Transportation under the ISTEA program, with additional funds provided by the Swedish Council of America and the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. The work was performed in close coordination with the Iowa Department of Transportation, administrator of the grant. |
Prairie Architects, Inc. -- 103 South Third Street -- Fairfield, Iowa 52556 |