Jim Pendleton's Barn House, Bowling Green, Indiana, is reported to have burned down on Nov. 11 or early on the 12th. Whether the destruction was accidental, by arson, or by local authorities to clear a condemned hulk isn't clear.

"When I passed this morning I saw only a heap of matter and a few columns of smoke rising," reports Nathan N. Richie, Curator of Collections and Programs at the Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute. "I don't know why it was burned, but sadly it no longer stands!"

The Barn House had been closed to visitors for several years while its creator did a stint in jail. The giant assemblage of old barns contained 41 rooms, 15 stairways, a prayer alcove, and a "quickie room." [11/12/2002]

February 10, 2012