Castle Farms
|
Loeb Farms Barn Complex
|
|
 |
|
 
|
|
| Nearest city | Charlevoix, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°16′43″N 85°13′46″W / 45.27861°N 85.22944°WCoordinates: 45°16′43″N 85°13′46″W / 45.27861°N 85.22944°W |
| Area | 45 acres (18 ha) |
| Built | 1917 |
| Architect | Arthur Heun |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Neo-Norman |
| NRHP Reference # | 95001392 |
| Added to NRHP | November 29, 1995 |
Castle Farms is a special events facility located in Charlevoix, Michigan. It was constructed in 1918 by Albert Loeb, who was the Vice President of Sears, Roebuck and Company, and it was designed by Arthur Heun. Albert Loeb, in addition to being a wealthy businessman, was the father of murderer Richard Loeb, who with schoolmate Nathan "Babe" Leopold, committed the infamous Leopold and Loeb murder in Chicago.
Albert Loeb built Castle Farms as a model farm to showcase in addition to new farm equipment that was sold by his company. The original estate covered 1600 acres, and included the Loebs's summer home, caretakers houses, fields, orchards, and this livestock barn complex. Loeb hired Chicago architect Arthur Heun to design the buildings on the estate, including these farm buildings. During the farm's operation, Loeb bred prize-winning stock of Holstein-Friesian cattle, Duroc-Jersey hogs, and Belgian horses. The farm also established a premium-quality mail-order business in butter, syrup, honey, poultry, eggs, and other products. Albert Loeb died in 1924, but his son Ernest continued the farm for a few years until financial difficulties forcced its closure in 1927.
After the farm ceased operations, the buildings remained in the Loeb family and were rented for storage space until 1962, when it was purchased by John Van Haver, an executive who restored the facility and opened it to the public. In 1969, it was sold to Arthur and Erwina Reibel and was mainly used for rock concerts. Some of the more notable acts include Iron Maiden, Metallica, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, AC/DC, and The Beach Boys.
In 2001, Castle Farms was sold to current owner Linda Mueller who finished restoring it to its original condition by 2005. Today, it is open year round, and is primarily used for weddings and receptions. However, Castle Farms is also used for other various festivals and social events, such as the Charlevoix Renaissance Festival. In 2008, a model railroad was added that provides a scenic journey through Charlevoix's history.
...
Wikipedia