Texas State marker highlights long history of Texas Tech's iconic Dairy Barn
Lubbock County's Historical Commission and the Student Government Association of Texas Tech unveiled a new Texas State Historical Marker in ceremonies on Thursday (April 28) honoring Tech's Dairy Barn, one of the university's original structures. Built in an L-shaped configuration, the agricultural complex includes a free-standing grain silo to the west of the main wing.
Built in 1926, the barn is one of the four original buildings on what was then known as Texas Technological College. By 1931, Tech's Dairy Manufactures Department was self-supporting, furnishing milk and ice cream to campus cafeterias and the Lubbock community. The college herd, comprised of cattle bought by or donated to the college, swelled beyond the barn's capacity by 1935.
As a solution, students were asked to remove their own cattle from the barn and the era of tuition payments through milk sales came to an end. The facility continued to serve as an educational site for students interested in the industry until it was abandoned in 1964, when dairy operations were moved. The dairy barn and silo were officially designated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
A description of the building from the register notes: The complex was built with interior milking and feeding facilities for 40 cows, plus calf stalls, feed mixing room, boiler room, attendant's room and an office. A fire in January 1930 damaged the building, destroyed equipment and killed three cows, but the building was soon repaired and new milking equipment was installed. Some minor interior and exterior changes were made through years of milking operations before 1966, when the Dairy Manufacturing Department vacated the building.
Last year, the Dairy Barn was part of a major facelift for some of Texas Tech's most notable scenes. The greening of the West Library Mall and the area surrounding Tech's iconic Dairy Barn were part of a $2.5 million campus beautification project that included the university's Broadway Avenue entrance and Memorial Circle. Along with new trees, the project around the historic dairy barn included new turfgrass and landscaping, along with an irrigation system, lighting and walkways.
Written by Norman Martin
CONTACT: Michael Galyean, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or michael.galyean@ttu.edu
0429NM16 / PHOTOS: N Martin (bottom, left to right) Pierce Lancaster, a freshman agricultural economics major from Bowie, and Cindy Akers, CASNR's Associate Dean for Academic and Student Programs
Editor's Note: For video from the event by Tech's Lacey Nobles and Jeff Ramazani, go to http://today.ttu.edu/posts/2016/04/dairy-barn
Davis College NewsCenter
-
Address
P.O. Box 42123, Lubbock, Texas 79409-2123, Dean's Office Location:Goddard Building, Room 108 -
Phone
(806)742-2808 -
Email
kris.allen@ttu.edu