# Trimborn Farm

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Trimborn_Farm
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Trimborn_Farm.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimborn_Farm
> Source revision: 1342693315
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name         = Trimborn Farm
| nrhp_type    =
| image        = Trimborn-Farm.jpg
| caption      = Trimborn limestone barn
| location     = [Greendale, Wisconsin](/source/Greendale%2C_Wisconsin)
| coordinates  = {{coord|42|56|39.37|N|88|1|26.28|W|display=inline,title}}
| area         =
| built        = 1846
| architect    =
| architecture = Greek Revival
| added        = 1980-07-31
| refnum       = 80000170 <ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
}}

'''Trimborn Farm''' is a [Victorian era](/source/Victorian_era) estate located in [Greendale, Wisconsin](/source/Greendale%2C_Wisconsin), United States, and owned by [Milwaukee County](/source/Milwaukee_County). Spanning {{convert|7.5|acre|ha|abbr=off}} and nine buildings, it is listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places). The farm is also a State Historic Site and designated Milwaukee County Landmark.

== History ==
Around 1846 Jeremiah O'Donnell built lime kilns at the farm.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trimborn Farm (Werner Trimborn)|date=January 2012 |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI8761|publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society|accessdate=2018-11-24}}</ref> In 1851, [Werner Trimborn](/source/Werner_Trimborn) and [Jacob Kier](/source/Jacob_Kier) purchased O'Donnell's [lime](/source/Lime_(mineral))-production business which covered {{convert|10|acre|ha|abbr=off|spell=in}} on site. Kier left soon after, but Werner and his family continued on to become one of the largest producers of high quality lime in Wisconsin. At its height in the 1870s, the business held over {{convert|500|acre|km2 ha|abbr=on}} of land and employed nearly 40 people.<ref name=nrhpdoc>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=80000170}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Trimborn Farm|publisher=[National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service)|author1=Terry Shoptaugh|author2=Harry H. Anderson|date=1979-12-15|accessdate=2018-11-25}} With {{NRHP url|id=80000170|photos=y|title=four photos.}}</ref>

With the 1900s came a drastic change in building materials, including the introduction of [Portland cement](/source/Portland_cement). The estate was soon subdivided and sold off, with much of it going to the [Theodore Vollmer](/source/Theodore_Vollmer) family for use in dairy farming.<ref name=MCHS>{{cite web|title=Trimborn Farm - History|url=https://www.trimbornfarm.com/history|publisher=Milwaukee County Historical Society|accessdate=2018-11-24}}</ref>

In 1919, the Froemming family purchased a large tract of land to build greenhouses on, a portion of which was later donated to Whitnall Park.<ref name=MCHS/>

In 1935, the farm, along with {{convert|3,400|acre|km2 ha|abbr=on}} of surrounding land, was purchased by the federal government as part of a planned agricultural community known as the Greendale Project.<ref name=MCHS/><ref name=nrhpdoc/> It is now the village of [Greendale, Wisconsin](/source/Greendale%2C_Wisconsin).

After the [Great Depression](/source/Great_Depression), the remaining farmland passed into private ownership, where it became home to crop dusters and a riding stable.<ref name=MCHS/>
left|thumb|Lime kilns at Trimborn Farm, 2022

== Attractions ==

The nine historic buildings and land which remain are part of the [Milwaukee County Parks System](/source/Milwaukee_County_Parks_System). With the assistance of the [Milwaukee County Historical Society](/source/Milwaukee_County_Historical_Society), a variety of community events and activities are scheduled year-round.<ref>[http://www.milwaukeecountyhistsoc.org/historic_properties/trimborn_farm.html Trimborn Farm], ''Milwaukee County Historical Society,'' Retrieved May 27, 2008.</ref>

Property highlights include:

*Farmhouse &mdash; Constructed in [Greek Revival style](/source/Greek_Revival_architecture) during the 1850s using [Cream City brick](/source/Cream_City_brick), a distinctive, light-colored brick made locally.<ref name=nrhpdoc/>
*Granary &mdash; Built in the 1850s using a technique on the interior called [brick nog](/source/brick_nog)gin to protect against air infiltration. This building functioned as a bunkhouse and [granary](/source/granary).
*Lime Kilns &mdash; In the 1840s and 1850s four [lime kiln](/source/lime_kiln)s were constructed to heat limestone taken from the nearby quarry and turn it in to lime powder.
*Stone Barn &mdash; Beginning in 1858 it was built in three phases, using limestone from the quarry. Two concrete silos were added in 1920.
*Threshing Barn &mdash; Built in 1858, using vertical board and batten siding. The barn was used to store grain and house animals.

Also part of the farm complex is the neighboring [Jeremiah Curtin House](/source/Jeremiah_Curtin_House), built in 1846, which is a unique stone house that was the boyhood home of noted American linguist and folklorist [Jeremiah Curtin](/source/Jeremiah_Curtin); it was later sold to the Trimborn family.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.milwaukeehistory.net/historic-sites-2/trimborn-farm/ Milwaukee County Historical Society: Trimborn Farm]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051001051718/http://www.theparkpeople-milwaukee.org/TrimbornFarm/TrimbornFarm.htm The Park People of Milwaukee County]

{{Registered Historic Places}}

Category:Farms on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin
Category:Buildings and structures in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Category:Museums in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Category:Open-air museums in Wisconsin
Category:Farm museums in Wisconsin
Category:Industry museums in Wisconsin
Category:Parks in Wisconsin
Category:Protected areas of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Category:Houses in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Category:Greendale, Wisconsin
Category:Lime kilns in the United States

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Trimborn Farm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimborn_Farm) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimborn_Farm?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.