Billows/Sarasin

History

Warren Sarasin’s grandparents bought the property this barn sits on in 1969 from Elmer and Clara Billows. Warren’s grandparents milked cows in the barn up until the 1980s when Warren’s grandfather died. Warren’s grandmother lived on the property up until 2001 and then Warren’s parents bought the property. John and Marion Sarasin lived in the house on the property from 2001 until 2009. Since 2009, Warren and Lisa Sarasin have been living on the property. The barn has been used since 1980 solely for storage. This barn was built using frame construction and platform framing.

The house on this property and the barn were both moved by Elmer and Clara Billows from the Demonstration Farm in Sedgewick, Alberta. Elmer and Clara lived in the house and used the barn from the early 1920s until 1969. The house used to be the cook house on the Demonstration Farm and the barn was one of two large barns. It is believed that the Wesley family bought and moved the other large barn to an area South of Strome, Alberta. The Wesley family’s barn is also featured in this database.

Black, Dave. “Demonstration Farm at Sedgewick”. Sedgewick Sentinel: A History of Sedgewick and Surrounding Districts. 1st Ed. Sedgewick: Sedgewick Historical Society, 1982. Print

Sarasin, Warren. Personal communication. 19 June 2017.

This photo is of the eastern face of the barn. Notice the four wooden stars near the bale door.

This photo is a close up of the eastern face of the barn. Notice the two wooden cupolas and the fold-down hay carrier door.

This photo shows the eastern face of the barn and part of the northern side of the barn. This barn originally had four cupolas – one in each corner of the barn.

This photo shows the northern side of the barn. The large door in this frame would have been for machinery.

This photo is of the southern side of the barn. The doors on this side of the barn lead into stalls. By our best guess, the stalls would have originally been for horse because of the split doors. After the barn was moved here, it was most likely renovated for milk cows. Now, these doors lead into a walk-way in front of the milking stalls and stanchions. Notice the missing cupola. It was blown off in a strong wind storm.

A close up of two of the doors and two windows on the south-west side of the barn.

This photo shows the eastern face and the southern side of the barn

This photo was taken whilst standing in the eastern doorway looking West.

This photo is of the inside of the door on the western face of the barn.

This photo is of the inside of the door on the northern side of the barn.

This photo is a continuation of the last photo. In the foreground of the photo you can see a manger. In the background you can see the northern side of the barn.

This photo is of the stalls on the southern half of the barn. This stall was set up for milking cows. Note the metal stanchions and the names of the cows written on the 2×4. The wall in the background is the southern side of the barn.

This photo is a continuation of the last photo.

Notice the names of milk cows written on the wood next to the stanchions.

This frame is of the western face of the barn and rafters inside the loft.

This frame is of the southern half of the barns roof and shows the platform which the roof sits on.

Location

52.776951, -111.704000 SW 08-44-12 W4

Characteristics

Barn Condition: Poor

Construction Date: 1912

Features: Four wooden cupolas

Roof Shape: Gambrel

Paint: Red with white trim

Decorations: Four wooden stars on eastern face

Roof Covering: Asphalt shingles

Siding: Wooden shiplap

Foundation: Cement and stone

Additional History on the Property

To learn more about the Sedgewick Demonstration Farm please click here.

“William F. Billow Family”. Sedgewick Sentinel: A History of Sedgewick and Surrounding Districts. 1st Ed. Sedgewick: Sedgewick Historical Society, 1982. Print