The barn on the Thiebaud property originally housed an invention by Samuel Hewitt, a Switzerland County native. His invention later became known as a Mormon Hay Press. Few people today know what such a contraption is or why it was such an important part of 19th commerce and economy.

These monstrous machines, powered by horses were used to compact hay into large bales for shipment to market. Just as oil today fuels everything from your daily commute to the movement of a nation's armies, hay was king and fortunes were made. It is thought that Switzerland County was home to as many as 200 of these machines.

With the invention of the gasoline engine and mechanical farming methods the hay press was obsolete and few survive to this day. The one shown here dangling from a crane is one of those few and its restoration to working order is central to our Agricultural Museum Center project.