2103 Zeandale Road | Manhattan, Kansas 66502 | (785) 539-7899
The Lazy T Brand: 
Open Year Round by Reservation
Open for Fall Festival Weekends
in October
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday
1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday
Historic 1860s Native Stone Barn & Granary
Standing tall and solid for more than 150 years, the Persons Barn and Granary has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington D.C. since January 22, 2009. The barn was built by Enoch Persons, the pioneer who was the first of five generations of the Persons family to live on this farm and work the land. In 1958, the Persons Farm was renamed the Lazy T Ranch, and then the Wilson family bought the property in 1968.
The historic barn was restored and dedicated by the Wilson family, and three generations of Wilsons currently live on the farm. The barn, still in use for hay and livestock, is available for tours, and Ron will be happy to discuss the renovation and the importance of preserving this national treasure.
From the nomination form prepared by architectural consultant Brenda Spencer:
"The Persons barn and granary are significant as a grouping of related agriculture buildings representative of a Kansas farm established by early settlers of the state. The farm was homesteaded by Enoch Persons in 1855, the year that Manhattan and Riley County were founded.
The barn is a two-story structure with a gable-roof. The barn measures approximately 33' by 36' and has a standing seam metal roof. It is an excellent early example of the property type. The ground floor is constructed of native limestone, quarried from the land nearby and features dressed stones that resemble quoins. The upper facade of the barn is clad in vertical board and batten siding. The barn is constructed of sawn lumber although the primary structural columns on the ground floor are hewn posts. A 30' by 80' one story shed addition extends from the southwest corner of the original barn. The barn retains a high degree of historic integrity, clearly portraying its original design and function.
Re-dedication of the Persons Barn & Granary
The second primary farm structure located in the barnyard grouping at the south end of the farmstead is a granary. It is a 1 1/2 story frame structure with a limestone foundation. The granary is an excellent example of early, on-farm grain storage.
The barn and granary are nominated as part of a group of historic farm resources lcoated at the south end of the farmstead. In addition to the barn and granary, the group includes a clay tile silo constructed in 1919 and a stone corral (1939). The hay/loafing shed addition and secondary structures represent the evolution of this early Kansas farm, spanning more than fifty years. All of the historic resources maintain a high degree of integrity, portraying their original design and use."
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