John Chandler and Edward Fifield emigrated to the township in 1805--the former from Hopkinton, N. H., and the latter from Ware. They had known each other in New Hampshire.

There appears to have been a spirit of rivalry between the two men. It was generally known in the township that each intended to build a barn of unusual size. Both were uncommunicative about dimensions. When Mr. Fifield was questioned about the size of his prospective barn, his uniform answer was--"I shall wait until Chandler builds and then build a larger barn than his."

In 1809, Mr. Chandler took the initiative and built so large a barn that he believed no sane man would attempt to outdo him, but he misjudged. Mr. FiField was firm in his determination to surpass his neighbor in the number and size of his buildings as well as in the extent of his fields and crops. He was still uncommunicative about the size of his intended barn, but assured inquirers that it would be larger than ChandlerÕs, and that the frame would contain three hundred and sixty-five braces to correspond to the number of days in the year.

Soon after, Mr. FiField gratified the curiosity of his neighbors with the sight of a veritable barn one hundred and twenty feet long by forty feet wide. Like the Chandler barn it occupied an elevated site, and when, years later, the surrounding forests were cleared away, it was seen for a long distance. It was claimed to be the largest barn in the State at the date of its construction. Seba French of Dexter was the master builder.

The raising of the building was an occasion long remembered. The country for miles around was scoured for assistance. The flow of the favorite New England beverage was commensurate with the greatness of the building. There are vague traditionary rumors that the men did not get home with whole suits. As an incident of the occasion no use was found for the 365th brace, a discovery that was followed by a boisterous laugh from the jubilant crowd and a demand for an extra treat.