Cant Ranch, Barn, East side of State Route 19, North of U.S. 26, Dayville, Grant County, OR

Significance: Sheep shearing was a time of hard work and festivity; during the 12 hour shearing day, the women prepared food for the evening celebration. Since only a few ranches had shearing facilities, families and herds of sheep would come from miles around to Cant Ranch for the big event. Boys guided the sheep to the waiting aisle. The shearing was screened from view of the sheep with sheets. Then, each sheep was led to an individual stall for shearing. The end stall was where the captain overlooked the process. The automatic shearing device was controlled by a shoulder strap which engaged the clippers. Once the wool was removed it was bundled with paper twine and tossed up to a raised platform to be dropped into an enormous bag. When filled, the entire bundle would weigh as much as 1000 pounds.
Survey number: HABS OR-142-B