Bonde Farmhouse
Encyclopedia
The Bonde Farmhouse is a historic farmhouse
located in Wheeling Township in Rice County, Minnesota
, approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) from Nerstrand
. The private home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP) on April 6, 1982. The farmhouse is significant both for its association with a prominent Norwegian immigrant family as well as its local limestone
construction and outstanding integrity.
, just outside the town of Nerstrand. The building's siting on a hilltop location, alongside its stone masonry construction, make it a focal point for the farmstead and landmark in the area. The -story house is constructed of Nerstrand and Faribault limestone and its two sections form an L-shape. All windows and door opening on the west (front) side of the north ell
are located below the central cabled roof while wider spaces are located between other openings. The two-over-two windows are have stone sills and lintels. Small, slightly arched windows are centered in the gable ends. The front porch
features turned posts, turned brackets
and spindles
along the porch frieze
and is topped by a metal railing; it extends across the west side of the north ell. In 1960 a basement garage and 1-story addition were added to the rear of the building.
Four of the farm buildings located near the house comprise the core of structures built by Tosten Bonde during the 1870s and 1880s; Bonde's journal recorded the construction dates. These structures include a gambrel
-roofed barn
, built in 1870 and remodeled at the turn of the twentieth century, an 1883 machine shed that was later turned to a garage, an 1886 granary and an 1887 milk house. These buildings were included in the original nomination to the NRHP.
ed by Einer Bonde, who emigrated from Norway
with his family in 1854 to farm in the Midwest. After a year in Iowa
, in 1855 the family settled among the loosely organized Norwegian settlers in Wheeling Township. Einer's son Tosten acquired the farm in 1865 and built the large farmhouse in 1875, the same year his father, Einer died. Tosten Bonde kept thorough records of farm statistics, building improvements as well as family and local notes in a journal he kept in the 1880s. Tosten Bonde was a successful farmer and figured prominently in the history of the Norwegian community centered around Nerstrand. He founded the Wheeling Mutual Insurance Company in 1876 and served in the Minnesota State Legislature for two terms as a Representative
and two terms as a State Senator
.
The Bonde Farmhouse reflects the success of early Norwegian farmers who cleared and farmed the land of the area. The area surrounding Nerstrand and Wheeling Township became a close-knit Norwegian American community. At the time of its listing on the NRHP, Bonde family descendants still headed the Wheeling Mutual Insurance Company, farmed the original homestead and resided in the stone house.
Farmhouse
Farmhouse is a general term for the main house of a farm. It is a type of building or house which serves a residential purpose in a rural or agricultural setting. Most often, the surrounding environment will be a farm. Many farm houses are shaped like a T...
located in Wheeling Township in Rice County, Minnesota
Rice County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 56,665 people, 18,888 households, and 13,353 families residing in the county. The population density was 114 people per square mile . There were 20,061 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
, approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) from Nerstrand
Nerstrand, Minnesota
Nerstrand is a small town in Rice County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 295 at the 2010 census.Minnesota State Highway 246 serves as a main route in the community. Minnesota State Highways 56 and 60 are nearby.- History :...
. The private home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP) on April 6, 1982. The farmhouse is significant both for its association with a prominent Norwegian immigrant family as well as its local limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
construction and outstanding integrity.
Structure
The Bonde Farmhouse is located off County Road 27 and Minnesota State Highway 246Minnesota State Highway 246
Minnesota State Highway 246 is a highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 3 in the city of Northfield and continues south and east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 56 in Holden Township near Kenyon.Highway 246 is in...
, just outside the town of Nerstrand. The building's siting on a hilltop location, alongside its stone masonry construction, make it a focal point for the farmstead and landmark in the area. The -story house is constructed of Nerstrand and Faribault limestone and its two sections form an L-shape. All windows and door opening on the west (front) side of the north ell
Ell (architecture)
In architecture, an ell is a wing of a building that lies perpendicular to the length of the main portion.In connected farm architecture, the ell is often extended to attach the main house to another building, usually a barn. It takes its name from the shape of the letter L.-External links:*...
are located below the central cabled roof while wider spaces are located between other openings. The two-over-two windows are have stone sills and lintels. Small, slightly arched windows are centered in the gable ends. The front porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
features turned posts, turned brackets
Bracket (architecture)
A bracket is an architectural member made of wood, stone, or metal that overhangs a wall to support or carry weight. It may also support a statue, the spring of an arch, a beam, or a shelf. Brackets are often in the form of scrolls, and can be carved, cast, or molded. They can be entirely...
and spindles
Spindle (furniture)
A Spindle, in furniture, is an cylindrically symmetric shaft, usually made of wood. A spindle is usually made of a single piece of wood and typically has decoration fashioned by hand or with a lathe...
along the porch frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
and is topped by a metal railing; it extends across the west side of the north ell. In 1960 a basement garage and 1-story addition were added to the rear of the building.
Four of the farm buildings located near the house comprise the core of structures built by Tosten Bonde during the 1870s and 1880s; Bonde's journal recorded the construction dates. These structures include a gambrel
Gambrel
A gambrel is a usually-symmetrical two-sided roof with two slopes on each side. The upper slope is positioned at a shallow angle, while the lower slope is steep. This design provides the advantages of a sloped roof while maximizing headroom on the building's upper level...
-roofed barn
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
, built in 1870 and remodeled at the turn of the twentieth century, an 1883 machine shed that was later turned to a garage, an 1886 granary and an 1887 milk house. These buildings were included in the original nomination to the NRHP.
History and significance
The site was originally homesteadHomestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
ed by Einer Bonde, who emigrated from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
with his family in 1854 to farm in the Midwest. After a year in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, in 1855 the family settled among the loosely organized Norwegian settlers in Wheeling Township. Einer's son Tosten acquired the farm in 1865 and built the large farmhouse in 1875, the same year his father, Einer died. Tosten Bonde kept thorough records of farm statistics, building improvements as well as family and local notes in a journal he kept in the 1880s. Tosten Bonde was a successful farmer and figured prominently in the history of the Norwegian community centered around Nerstrand. He founded the Wheeling Mutual Insurance Company in 1876 and served in the Minnesota State Legislature for two terms as a Representative
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
and two terms as a State Senator
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
.
The Bonde Farmhouse reflects the success of early Norwegian farmers who cleared and farmed the land of the area. The area surrounding Nerstrand and Wheeling Township became a close-knit Norwegian American community. At the time of its listing on the NRHP, Bonde family descendants still headed the Wheeling Mutual Insurance Company, farmed the original homestead and resided in the stone house.