Ira Wilson was born in 1867, and began his career in dairy farming at an early age, working on the farm owned by his family since 1847. He built a barn on this site in 1888; in 1919 the barn burned and he built the present structure on the foundations of the earlier barn. Wilson eventually established a million-dollar dairy, creamery, and trucking business, the Ira Wilson & Sons Dairy, and served for two terms as Wayne County sheriff. Wilson died in 1944, and the lower level of the barn was converted for use as a horse stable in the same year.

As of 1980, the Wilson Barn is managed by "The Friends of the Barn", a volunteer group. The Barn hosts a farmers market from July to October, a car show in mid summer, and a pumpkinfest in October. We rent the barn for weddings, parties and functions of your choice. Volunteers are always welcome.

Come on out and experience the history of Livonia.