Thiebaud Farmstead Hay Press Barn
The Switzerland County Historical Society acquired this barn and farm in 2004. The Thiebaud hay press barn, built circa 1855, was placed on a hillside overlooking the Ohio River. Although the hay press no longer exists in this barn, the significance of the structure in its location is obvious. It is in the process of restoration and has been included in the National Register of Historical Sites.
The hay press was a three-story mechanism that pressed loose hay into bales by means of a heavy weight using a pulley and screw system. The weight was raised up inside the mechanism then dropped onto the hay.
Prior to and especially during the Civil War, there was a demand for hay. Pressed bales, transported by riverboats, were a profitable venture for Switzerland County farmers.
The best perspective for this barn was a very steep hillside or a busy highway, neither of them good choices. I completed a studio oil painting in December 2008 using a large array of reference materials. I chose a canvas 18 x 36 inches. This barn painting made possible, in part, by the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
All the barn paintings are for sale. Please contact Gwen to find out if the painting(s) you are interested in are sold or available.
