Bell Farm (Indian Head, Saskatchewan)
Bell Farm is a heritage farm built in 1882 by William Robert Bell on ten miles (16 km) square or 60,000 acres (24,000 ha) at Indian Head in Saskatchewan. The Bell Farm Barn is amongst the ten top most endangered sites by the Heritage Canada Foundation. The round structure consisted of a silo which could be used also as a lookout tower. The silo had a capacity of 4,000 bushels of oats and 100 tons of hay. The surrounding area could house 36 horse and an office. Having the silo centrally located greatly reduced labour involved in livestock feeding and resulted in a stronger facility than the rectangular structures.
| Bell Farm | |
|---|---|
Major Bell's farm house in 1884; from Notman Photographic Archives | |
| General information | |
| Status | Reconstructed |
| Architectural style | Round Barn |
| Town or city | Indian Head, Saskatchewan |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 50°33′6.84″N 103°40′46.92″W |
| Construction started | 1882 |
| Renovated | July 24, 2010 |
| Demolished | April 2008 |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 67 feet (20 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Limestone |
The first settlers moved into the district in 1882, a few months ahead of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The farming operations were so huge and out of the ordinary that, on many occasions, the passenger trains would stop and let the passengers watch the harvesting operation becoming the area's first tourist attraction.