the Holmes Round Barn

a Canadian Heritage Dairy Barn in Barnston-Ouest, Quebec

In 1897 William Henry Holmes bought a farm in the vicinity of Way’s Mills in the Quebec Eastern Townships with a rectangular barn and a sugarhouse. Just 9 years later, disaster struck when the Holmes barn and farmhouse burned to the ground. Ignoring tradition, William decided to build a round barn – the latest trend in dairy farming from the neighbouring American States of Vermont and Massachusetts.

  • Louise Abbott

    Louise Abbott

    True round barns, such as the Holmes barn in Barnston West, demanded more precise engineering than polygonal models. Some architectural historians have claimed that round…

  • the Sugarmakers

    This video was shared earlier on this site – however, I made a mistake and the link didn’t work. It was produced by Louise Abbott.…

  • Greener Pastures

    A leading attraction to the Holmes Round Barn is its situation in one of the most scenic areas of Canada. The Eastern Townships are known…

  • Maple Syrup – Nature’s Gift

    When William Henry Holmes purchased his farm in 1897 it was already producing maple syrup. Wooden buckets and barrels were used to gather the sap…