Esslinger Barn - Henderson, NV
N 36° 00.656 W 114° 56.767
11S E 685098 N 3987112
One of many relocated structures that comprise the Clark County Heritage Museum.
Waymark Code: WMAHA3
Location: Nevada, United States
Date Posted: 01/16/2011
Views: 15
Homesteading Las Vegas
a history of the Esslinger family
Allen and Helene Esslinger homesteaded 5 acres of land in the western part of the Las Vegas Valley (now the corner of Charleston and Lindell) in the early 1950s. They paid a $10 application fee to the US Department of the Interior on May 24, 1950, and then a $375 filing fee for the 5 acres. Charleston Blvd was just a one lane dirt road at the time.
The Homestead Act required that there be a livable dwelling on the land. The family had an old condemned house from downtown Las Vegas moved to the property. There was no water or power so a potbellied stove provided heat and kerosene lamps gave light. They used an old-style ice box for food. Allen 'water witched' for a well using a forked willow branch.
Allen and Helene built a barn by hand with the help of a friend from Montana. From paycheck to paycheck, the barn slowly rose. It was a big day when Helene topped off the cupola with a weathervane. The Esslinger's daughter, Karen, used the loft as a lookout. The barn became the landmark for that area of town. Everyone gave directions by saying, 'just look for the big red barn on the side of the hill'.
The town grew around the homestead after Charleston Blvd was paved. They developed the front of the property into a Shakey's Pizza Parlor and a gas station/mini mart.
Helene died in 1998 and Allen, who attended the museum's opening of his barn, died in 2005. Karen now lives in Arizona. The barn was donated to the museum by Allen, Karen and her daughter, Julie.
Barn Memories
This barn held and will continue to create and hold memories. Here are a few of the memories about the barn,
It was a playhouse, clubhouse and lookout for Karen and her friends
Allen restored his Model T collection in it
Helene threw a barn dance with cornmeal on the floor.
Barn Types
This type of barn architecture is known as a Ground Stable Barn (1910-1950s). After 1910 government heath regulations for the production and handling of fluid milk required new barn designs. A gambel-roofed, ground stable barn style was promoted and widely adopted throughout the country. Cows were housed on a washable concrete floor in steel stanctions at ground level. The gambel roof made an ample hayloft above and roof ventilators provided fresh air.
Although this barn was not built to house cows, it is true to the Ground Stable Barn style. This barn was intended as a workshop and storage facility.
Construction: Wood
Is this a 'working' barn?: Other (describe below)
Other:
Served the family as most of the above, now serving as a display.
Distinctive Features: This barn has a hay loft
Rating - Please Rate this Barn: 
Other Distinctive Features: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
When visiting a waymark, please take pictures that clearly show the barn and any implements, animals or other farm-related items that might be visible. This category can be as much about creative photography as the actual building itself.
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