History

John G.E Larsen, an early immigrant from Scandinavia, settled it the Bear River Valley and lived on the property now known as the Holmgren Historical Farm in Tremonton. He settled here as early as 1889, but did not obtain it as a homestead until 1896 when Utah officially became a state. The Larsen’s built a small 3 room home which is still in existence today as part of the Zollinger home. He farmed there until 1916 when David Holmgren bought the farmstead. In 1937, David’s son, Wayne and his wife June bought the homestead. Together, father and son built most of the out buildings, including the barn and the unique round granary.

The barn owes its unique design to David and Wayne’s progressive attitude. David traveled east and saw different styles of barns. He decided that the Gothic arch or bow truss would offer the most space and up-to-date design. The placement of the barn on the banked area allowed for a basement to be the milking parlor with all the hay being stored upstairs in the loft area. The most unique feature of the barn’s construction is that in order to achieve the curved roof of the Gothic arch, the wood for the trusses was soaked in the farm pond until pliable. Then the wood was placed in forms on the ground to dry in the curved shape needed to form the open arch of the barn.

The barn is on the Northern Utah Barn Tour..visitors are welcome year round.

In 1988, Tamara Zollinger, grand daughter of David Holmgren bought the farm with her husband Clair. Today she devotes all of her time to running the historical aspects of the farm, and continues to preserve the history and function of the farm as a place for the community and tourists to come and visit. The farm was nominated to the National Historic Register April 5, 2001

Wayne milked cows for many years, after which his son David milked for several years. His grandson Bruce Zollinger then milked a small jersey herd for about 6 years. When Bruce sold his cows the milking era ended. The barn’s current use is for some hay storage, and different events such as barn dances and private parties. Tamara grows and dries flowers for flower wreaths that she sells in the farm’s gift shop. The family also puts on a Farm Folk Festival every other summer.

In the 1950s, the farm was nicknamed the Lilac Farm for all the lilacs grown on the place. The red roof barn also had Lilac painted on its west side. The barn roof has been repainted red and the word Lilac will again be painted on. Much of this restoration has been accomplished through a grant from the Utah Historical Society of Utah.