Here's what the well house now looks like...totally reconstructed. In bygone years, this well house was used in the barn yard to draw water for the dairy cows. An electrically operated pump sat on boards similar to what you have and the pump was operated manually on an as needed basis to pump water for the troughs.
My wife now uses the well house as a garden house to store garden supplies and to make up potted plants. We still draw water from the well by pail and rope. We want to get a hand pump in time to pump manually.
The well house you have has potential. It doesn't look like the structure is worth saving. However, a small well house could be built around it similar to what I have. Use of it could be anything your imagination conjurs...garden house, patio house, gazebo, etc.
Whatever you do though, I'd highly recommend you save that well. It is living history. These wells are not made this way anymore. Wells were originally dug by hand to a level deemed appropriate until ground water levels were reached. A wooden, cylindrical wheel similar to a water wheel was placed in the well on it's side and lowered to the bottom leaving just enough room between its outside perimeter and the walls of the earthern well for the stone wall. Stone and rocks were then carefully placed in position and built up at the same time the wheel was slowly raised. The wheel is what held the stone walls in place until they set.
As long as the water is good, it could be used again for whatever purpose you desire. A hand pump or electric pump could draw water serving the needs of whatever structure you may decide to build...whether it be a building of some type or just a well canopy similar to what currently exists.
Bob
