The Builder

Built in 1912 by Otto Van Dyk. The Neil Barn was the largest curved roof barn this side of the Mississippi. The barn was built for the 360 acre Neil Dairy Farm. In June 1913 the barn hosted a city wide dance to celebrate its beginnings. Otto was a well known builder in the area that built numerous homes, barns similar to the Roller barn like the one off of Taylor Rd, and commercial buildings such as the old Ford garage now known as the Old Town Mall (home of Noe Jose, Dinas Great Finds, and Gerry Oak Gallery and more). His reputation for quality still stands to this day. Otto also served as mayor of Oak Harbor for 4 years and city counsel for 12. Otto passed away at the age of 75 and is buried in the Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor.