THUMB OCTAGON BARN
6948 Richie Rd.
Gagetown, MI 48735
Block: Michigan Royal Star

Local craftsmen George and John Munro were hired in 1923 to begin construction of the barn,
which was modeled after one Mr. Purdy had reportedly seen while traveling in Iowa. It has 8 sides
each measuring 42 feet 6 inches long and 24 feet high. It has a poured cement foundation 4 feet
high that supports a 20 foot high timber framed wall. The framing is sheathed with 1 X 12 shiplap
 siding and encircling the entire building are thirty 10 X 12 6-lite windows. To the tip of the weathervane
 the barn is 70 feet tall. The roof has three different levels. The ground floor of the barn measures 8,600
square feet and the loft area 5,700 square feet. The distance between opposite walls is 102 feet 6 inches.
In the center, on the ground level, there is a 44 foot octagonal arena. Between the arena and the outside
wall of the barn are stables, tack room and grain storage areas. The Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn
now own and operate the Thumb Octagon Barn and Agricultural Musuem.
For further information  about the barn, go to: www.thumboctagonbarn.org.

Ardis Monroe and Paula Gardner spent over 200 hours painting the many, many triangles on the quilt block.

Safety and Respecting Private Property~
All sites are on private property and should be viewed from the public road unless otherwise indicated at the
site that it is a business open to the public. We are indebted to our barn hosts for their generosity.
When viewing and enjoying the barns and blocks use caution when slowing or stopping near a site.