Operation and ownership Doncaster Round Barn

landforms surrounding barn , upper jefferson river valley

the panic of 1893 caused financial hardship doncaster operation. armstrong sold ranch max lauterbach , left montana in 1900. there, barn owned number of different people, , fell disrepair until purchased bayers family, owned doncaster farm property 1933 until 1997. arthur , elizabeth bayers raised hereford cattle , major breeders sold stock on north america , held cattle sale every year in barn. son, byron bayers, estimated cattle sales on years topped $5 million. barn s upkeep expensive, particularly cost of red paint.

the bayers sold parcel of land barn sat in 1985, , again fall disrepair. in 1997, purchased real estate developer , local rancher named allan hamilton, began renovate building. had new roof put on building , re-leveled foundation. in 2010, property purchased tony , amie james. formed swift river investments, massachusetts-based business, , began renovate structure community center. though thought had been listed on national register of historic places, no 1 had done so. in january 2015, montana historic preservation board met , unanimously agreed nominate it. structure placed on nrhp on april 14, 2015.

the building montana cowboy hall of fame legacy award inductee in 2008. jameses had been willing donate building house montana cowboy hall of fame itself, location in big timber, montana selected.