Gagetown, Michigan -- Bob Hirn came to Gagetown 46 years ago and was immediately sold on the country life.

"They have a different game plan," said Hirn. "They have a different way of treating people."

Maybe that's why in 1996 he decided to dive into the restoration of this Octagon Barn that locals claim is the largest in the Midwest.

"This site, the barn, the home and the powerhouse had literally become a wreck, they were in terrible condition," said Margaret Sergeant, the barn's tour guide. 

Sergeant was working to save the barn from the wrecking ball in 1993 when Hirn came along.

"We were somewhat floundering as a group and he brought us some direction," Sergeant said.

Hirn and others worked two years to restore the vision of original owners James and Cora Purdy, and the innovative builders who made it happen.

"The same amount of lumber you can build a round or octagonal barn and get more square footage to incorporate two or three traditional outbuildings like the hog house, chicken coop, horse stables and so on, get em all under one roof," Hirn said.

Purdy owned the local bank, and also the lumber yard.

"They set up a sawmill out here and behind the barn there was a grove of tamarack and they used those for the large beams that support the trusses," Sergeant said.

From the late 1800s to about 1919, the Purdys accumulated 560 acres of this land -- most of it unfarmable swampland. Why? Electricity. burned from these peat bricks, generated in that powerhouse right over there.

how much of that 560 acrews was actually farmable? "Oh mercy! Only 90," Sergeant said. "He had seen in Canada how they were using peat to fire up the boiler."

Purdy was able to power this entire farm, but the peat would not burn hot enough to power the surrounding towns. Still, his work here provided a jolt to the budding electricity era in the Thumb. Today, the restored structures pay tribute to Purdy's vision, and the museum draws visitors to share in its story.

"When you see people come in here from, not just the immediate area, but driving 2-3 hours one way and people from out of state coming to see it," Hirn said, "For me that is the battery charger."

Next week, Kevin takes us to the shores of Saginaw Bay and a 19th Century hotel with a presidential past.