Goll Homestead
Encyclopedia
The Goll Homestead is a historic farm
complex in far western Fulton County
, Ohio
, United States
. Located in German Township
northwest of Archbold
, the farm has been declared a historic site
because of its role in the region's settlement.
county cleared their lands, Peter Goll, Sr. and his wife Catherine preserved significant areas of virgin woodlands on their property. After immigrating to the United States from France in 1836, the Golls' first home in western Fulton County was a log cabin
, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the present farmstead. As Peter Goll, Jr. grew to adulthood, he married and established a new farmstead; building a new house, he used a distinctively European method of massive timber construction derived from the vernacular architecture
of the region's earliest French and German settlers. In 1862, one day before their child was born, Peter, Jr. and his wife moved into the new white wooden house. Soon afterward, his parents also moved into the house; in order to accommodate both households, the structure was built divided into two parts, each accessible by a different front door.
s, dairy cows
, and possibly pig
s. Like the house, the barn employed distinctive construction methods; its structure was based on wooden mortise and tenon
construction, with the massive beams being made from oak
trees cut on the property. In later years, the barn was modified several times; one of these renovations involved the raising of the entire structure by one story
to simplify the keeping of livestock.
(ODNR), which converted it into parkland, the Goll Woods State Nature Preserve. After the state took control of the property, the house and barn were converted for park purposes; the barn was used for storage, and park ranger
s lived in the house. By the 1990s, ODNR had decided to cease using the house for residential purposes, and the decision was made in the early 2000s to demolish both buildings. Some local residents reacted strongly against this proposal; by working with ODNR and the Ohio General Assembly
, they were able to secure grants
from the state for the property's restoration, and renovation efforts began in both the barn and the house.
In 2005, the Goll Homestead, comprising four buildings spread out over an area of 2.3 acre (0.9307778 ha), was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. It qualified for inclusion both because of its place in local history and because of its well-preserved historic architecture: it was a survivor of the county's early period of settlement, and its buildings employed elements of distinctively European architecture, such as construction with large timbers. Since that time, restoration efforts have continued — volunteer members of the nonprofit Friends of Goll Homestead have repaired the buildings and returned them to a condition more closely resembling the days of Peter Goll, Jr., while teams from Eastern Michigan University
have aided in removing modifications to the house in hopes of converting it into a base from which to conduct experiments in the surrounding woodland.
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
complex in far western Fulton County
Fulton County, Ohio
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 42,698. Its county seat is Wauseon. Fulton County is named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located in German Township
German Township, Fulton County, Ohio
German Township is one of the twelve townships of Fulton County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 6,458 people in the township, 2,168 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
northwest of Archbold
Archbold, Ohio
Archbold is a village in Fulton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,290 at the 2000 census.Archbold is home to Northwest State Community College...
, the farm has been declared a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
because of its role in the region's settlement.
House
Before white settlement, Fulton County was a very heavily wooded region. Although most early settlers in this Black SwampGreat Black Swamp
The Great Black Swamp, or simply Black Swamp, was a glacially caused wetland in northwest Ohio, United States, extending into extreme northeastern Indiana, that existed from the end of the Wisconsin glaciation until the late 19th century...
county cleared their lands, Peter Goll, Sr. and his wife Catherine preserved significant areas of virgin woodlands on their property. After immigrating to the United States from France in 1836, the Golls' first home in western Fulton County was a log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the present farmstead. As Peter Goll, Jr. grew to adulthood, he married and established a new farmstead; building a new house, he used a distinctively European method of massive timber construction derived from the vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
of the region's earliest French and German settlers. In 1862, one day before their child was born, Peter, Jr. and his wife moved into the new white wooden house. Soon afterward, his parents also moved into the house; in order to accommodate both households, the structure was built divided into two parts, each accessible by a different front door.
Barn
Three years after the house was completed, the Golls erected a barn to shelter their different types of livestock: horseHorse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s, dairy cows
Dairy cattle
Dairy cattle are cattle cows bred for the ability to produce large quantities of milk, from which dairy products are made. Dairy cows generally are of the species Bos taurus....
, and possibly pig
Domestic pig
The domestic pig is a domesticated animal that traces its ancestry to the wild boar, and is considered a subspecies of the wild boar or a distinct species in its own right. It is likely the wild boar was domesticated as early as 13,000 BC in the Tigris River basin...
s. Like the house, the barn employed distinctive construction methods; its structure was based on wooden mortise and tenon
Mortise and tenon
The mortise and tenon joint has been used for thousands of years by woodworkers around the world to join pieces of wood, mainly when the adjoining pieces connect at an angle of 90°. In its basic form it is both simple and strong. Although there are many joint variations, the basic mortise and tenon...
construction, with the massive beams being made from oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
trees cut on the property. In later years, the barn was modified several times; one of these renovations involved the raising of the entire structure by one story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
to simplify the keeping of livestock.
Public ownership
The house and related buildings remained in the Goll family for a full century. By the 1960s, ownership had passed to a descendent named Florence Louys, who decided to sell the farmstead and woods to the Ohio Department of Natural ResourcesOhio Department of Natural Resources
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created in 1949 by the Ohio Legislature. It is a government agency in the U.S. state of Ohio charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, public lands, state forests, state waterways, and recreation areas.Divisions of ODNR...
(ODNR), which converted it into parkland, the Goll Woods State Nature Preserve. After the state took control of the property, the house and barn were converted for park purposes; the barn was used for storage, and park ranger
Park ranger
A park ranger or forest ranger is a person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Different countries use different names for the position. Ranger is the favored term in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within the United...
s lived in the house. By the 1990s, ODNR had decided to cease using the house for residential purposes, and the decision was made in the early 2000s to demolish both buildings. Some local residents reacted strongly against this proposal; by working with ODNR and the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
, they were able to secure grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
from the state for the property's restoration, and renovation efforts began in both the barn and the house.
In 2005, the Goll Homestead, comprising four buildings spread out over an area of 2.3 acre (0.9307778 ha), was listed 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...
. It qualified for inclusion both because of its place in local history and because of its well-preserved historic architecture: it was a survivor of the county's early period of settlement, and its buildings employed elements of distinctively European architecture, such as construction with large timbers. Since that time, restoration efforts have continued — volunteer members of the nonprofit Friends of Goll Homestead have repaired the buildings and returned them to a condition more closely resembling the days of Peter Goll, Jr., while teams from Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
have aided in removing modifications to the house in hopes of converting it into a base from which to conduct experiments in the surrounding woodland.