The Wegner Barn
13595 Clinton Road, Clinton MI
Built by Wilsie D. Reed or
John McComb circa 1900 – 1920
If you have ever traveled on Clinton Road, just north of downtown, you certainly would have noticed these beautiful, ornate pair of barns on the east side of the road. Built in the early 1900’s, these two connected Gambrel roofed barns, prominently feature dual triangular dormers decorated with detailed gingerbread and eye catching white trim on the doors and windows.
Richard and Idella Wegner bought this farm from Frank and Alta Allen in 1964. Starting in 1971, Richard repurposed these former dairy barns into homes for up to 15 Clydesdale horses. Under the name of Maplewood Clydesdales, Richard showed them in harness and halter as well as conducted a successful breeding program. Richard was the longtime superintendent of schools in Clinton and the High School football field bears his name.
Mark Wegner (Richard and Idella’s son) farmed this property for over 50 years, growing hay, corn, soybeans and wheat.
James Halladay, an early owner of this property in the 1800’s, was a farmer from Fort Gibson, New York. He decided to pick up stakes and move to Michigan at the age of 65, proving once again that you are never too old to start another adventure!
Interview Notes
The Wegner Barn
13595 Clinton Road, Clinton, MI
Date of Interview: 8/25/2022
Interviewer: Mark and Susie Jenkins
Interviewee: Mark Wegner
1.) Plat Map Ownership Record (Bridgewater Township Sections 32 and 33), Washtenaw County Register of Deeds, and 1900 Census
1976 Richard Wegner
1970 Richard Wegner
1967 Richard Wegner – bought in 1964 from Frank and Alta Allen.
1957 Frank and Alta Allen
1956 Alta Allen – From the Will of John McComb (Alta’s father)
1921 John McComb – bought from Wilsie D. Reed (deed)
1915 W.D. Reed – Wilsie D. Reed (b 1865 – d 1923) lived in Manchester and Tecumseh, but not at this property. In 1918 Alfred Hoelzer lived here but did not own it. Alfred was not on the property in 1920. W.D.’s wife was Nellie Reed (b 1874 – d 1941).
1906 Julia Halladay owns a home in the Village of Clinton next to her brother James.
1900 Julia and Charlotte Halladay (sisters) live on the farm.
1896 James Halladay Estate
1895 James Halladay Estate
1874 J. Halladay
1864 J. Halladay – Born in New York on 5/29/1798, died in Clinton 12/28/1880. His life occupation was farming which he did 1 mile from Fort Gibson New York. He and his wife Permelia, married in 1823, moved to Michigan in March 1863 at the age of 65! He parented 7 children, 4 sons and 3 daughters. 2 daughters Julia (b 1830 – d 1920) and Charlotte lived on the farm. Julia rented the property to Ray Mitchell in 1902 for 903.
1856 B. Belding – George Belding (son) was born on the farm in 1840.
2.) Notes from the Auction Notice
- 4 total tracts of land: 31 acres west of the road and 60 acres east of the road.
- Former home of Maplewood Clydesdales.
- Historic 100’ x 30’ equestrian barn with a 30’ x 25’ attached workshop.
- 40’ x 70’ Morton pole barn.
3.) Features of the Historic Barn
- Listed on the 2007 “A Washtenaw County, Michigan Heritage Driving Tour” Tour 3: Historic Barns. In the brochure the “decorated Gothic dormers” are highlighted as part of the “fanciful details on these barns combining high style with functional design”.
- 2 connected barns. Mark called them the “big and little” barns.
- Probably built in the early 1900’s.
- Big barn was added on to maybe 3 times over the years.
- Dormered face of the little barn faces west.
- Barnyard is east of the little barn and south of the big barn.
- 2 floors in both barns – the main floor and the hay mow. A Separate room for grain on the main floor.
- A shed addition is on the north side.
- Gambrel roof shape. Braced rafter / Wing joist #2 type of self-supported light truss.
- Vertical, wood siding painted red with white trim and white gutters.
- Cement floor in the little barn, wood floor in the big barn.
- Hand hewn timbers and wood planks are both evident in the framing.
- Field stone foundation is on grade.
- Ribbed steel roof. Lightning rods were removed when metal roof was added.
- Hay trolley and track are both intact.
- 2 triangular dormers with fine gingerbread.
- Window and door framing is detailed and very attractive.
- Specialty barns – set up to house and care for horses.
- Formerly a dairy barn.
- Barn is currently empty.
- Improvements over the years included reroofing and painting.
4.) Personal / Family Information
- The main part of the house was built in 1845.
- Richard and Idella Wegner bought the farm from Frank and Alta Allen in 1964. The Allen’s were married in 1923.
- Richard was the superintendent of Clinton schools. He retired in 1980.
- Mark moved onto this farm when he was in the 8th 3 siblings (2 sisters).
- Mark farmed this property starting in the 10th grade until 2022. He grew hay, corn, soybeans, and wheat.
- Dick Wegner started owning Clydesdales in 1971 and had them on the farm until 2012/13. He converted this dairy barn to a horse barn by building horse stalls and equipping it to raise and care for horses. The pole barn was built in the 1980’s for additional room and to store equipment, haying tools, and a stake truck.
- Richard had up to 15 Clydesdales at any one time. He bred them and showed them in harness and halter.