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This proud barn was once the main structure of Lohill Farm
located at 501 Baldwin Road north of Clarkston Road in Orion Township. Lohill Farm was established by John and
Nancy Beardsley Lessiter beginning in 1853 at this location and farmed for 6
generations of the Lessiter family up to 1960.
The gambrel, banked barn was built in 1905 and originally
painted red by the John, Jr. and Norah Lessiter family. In 1908 Lessiter painted the barn white and
little else has been changed in the building since. It is 96 feet long, 40 feet wide and 60 feet
high with a stone foundation. With this size, the barn remains one of the largest
barns in the Orion area. Oak trees from the farm’s 248 acres were felled, cured
and used in the construction by the hired barn builders. Timber frame construction shows mortise and
tenon joints held by wooden pegs. The barn windows have frame detailing. In 1935 the barn was reshingled and three big
ventilators were added at that time.
The barn was used for hay and equipment storage and it
supported the Lessiter’s prize shorthorn cattle operation.Potatoes were also stored in the lower level.
Today Lessiter barn is privately owned and stands amid surrounding residential
developments and nearby Orion Township’s Friendship Park.
Source; Centennial
Farm, How 6 generations farmed the land, by Frank Lessiter, published in
1997. Orion Public Library.
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