THE ROUND BARN IS A PERFECT DAYTRIP IN NEARBY ADAMS COUNTY
By The Daily Boro Staff
In nearby Adams County, an architectural and agricultural landmark not only survives, but thrives. The Sheely family built the “Round Barn” in Biglerville in 1914, inspired by Shaker-designed barrel barns built around Pennsylvania (and as far west as Wisconsin) in the early 1900s.
Today, only three barrel barns remain in PA, and the Round Barn is likely the most famous. Built by John Fritz of Cashtown in 1914, he bicycled five miles to work each day. Fritz had no high-tech tools or machines, only his trusty hammer, saw, and ax. Local chestnuts, pines, and oak trees were felled and a nearby sawmill prepared the wood. The barn took Fritz seven months to complete.
When the barn was finished, it had a circumference of 287 feet, with an 87-foot diameter. The structure centered around a central silo 60 feet high and 12 feet wide, with a capacity to store 145 tons of silage. Inside the barn, this silo also served as a hub with 38 spokes of wood beams attached to support the massive roof. The barn housed 50 head of cattle and 16 horses.
Through the years, the Sheely family continued to utilize the barn, becoming local pioneers in the apple orchard industry. The family prospered, and the Sheely heirs ran the business and maintained the barn until 1985.
Knouse Fruitlands purchased the Round Barn in the mid-1980s, renovated the structure, and turned it into a retail farm market in 1994. As the business continues to grow, Knouse now grows pears, berries, sweet cherries, plums, vegetables, and pumpkins, among other crops.
Visiting the Round Barn is a special treat during autumn, as the market offers a wide selection of apples and pumpkins outside, with a cornucopia of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other goodies sold inside. Wandering the store’s wooden pathways, there’s no worry about getting lost, as the aisles always circle back to your starting point. In early November, Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples are in season.
Take a peek upstairs to see the amazing infrastructure of the Round Barn. The dramatic space hosts weddings and other special events (best in spring and fall) and is a rustic testament to the ingenuity and skill of its builders. No matter what season you stop, something new is always going on at the Round Barn, located at 298 Cashtown Road in Biglerville, and convenient to nearby Route 30. Call 717-334-1984 or email: [email protected].
