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People making their way to Northeast Iowa in the 1800's and later,
brought their customs and knowledge to enrich this land. Sometimes their structures resembled what they knew back in
Europe and other times they adapted. This page will give visibility to some of them.
| The Historic Goodno Log Home |
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THE GOODNO HOME. This structure first was located in the
town of Dorchester. After a time, it was moved a few miles to the west, east of Bee and occupied for many
years by the Goodno family, which has many descendants. Residents for the last several years are Michael and Jill Stephenson.
| The Log Home on River Road. |
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RIVER ROAD LOG HOME. This building, now located on River Road northeast
of Decorah, has been moved at least once in its lengthy history. It was once situated a bit to the north in Pleasant
Township and its purpose in those early days was that of school. It is extremely attractive, well kept up and has accouterments
most likely not on the scene 150 years ago.
| The historic Bee Store, now a residence, half in |
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| Iowa and half in Minnesota. |
THE BEE STORE. This unique store once existed in the community
of Bee, formerly Bergen, which was half in Minnesota and half in Iowa. That situation provided for interesting scenarios
when tax structures of the two states differed, and then there were liquor laws. The Bee Store is now a living residence.
| A loft in eastern Winneshiek County. |
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LOFT. This building, with some variations in configuration, would
appear to be seen as a loft back in Norway. There are two levels, of course, with living quarters on the upper
story. Most likely, it has been used many different ways over the years.
| Outbuilding that is located near the |
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| loft above. |
OUTBUILDING. This outbuilding or uthus looks to be very old and
likely was built by Norwegian immigrants initially. It probably was used for animals, grain or other storage.
| The Bricktown Cafe, once home of the |
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| famous Cooper Wagon Works in Dubuque. |
HE TURNED DOWN
HENRY FORD.
While dining in the Bricktown Cafe in Dubuque some time back,
we heard a delightful story from days gone by. The cafe was once part of a sprawling 27 acre complex founded by Augustine
A. Cooper, owner of the Reliable Cooper Wagon Firm, a product sold far beyond the environs of northeast Iowa. At one
time, he employed 175 persons. The wagons were known as an excellent items and one day, Henry Ford made his way
to Dubuque with an idea for a new product. Cooper would make the carriage and Ford the motor. Cooper responded
negatively, thinking Ford's idea was probably only a fad.
| A barn under development on Balsam Drive |
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| in Waterloo Township, Allamakee County, Iowa. |
| A garage existing on Balsam Drive in |
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| Waterloo Township of Allamakee County. |
BALSAM STRUCTURES. These attractive buildings are unique in appearance
and located on the Betteridge property on Balsam Drive, Waterloo Township, Allamakee County, Iowa. The barn probably
needs to be deemed a work in progress for there is still no wall on the west side.
| The Gavle Cabin overlooks the river valley |
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| from the Pine Creek Resort. |
GAVLE CABIN. The property of Vern and Sandy Gavle, this cabin resides
high on a ridge overlooking the scenic Upper Iowa River in Hanover Township. At one time in its history, this structure
was located just south of Big Canoe Ridge, a few miles farther west, and presumably built by Norwegian immigrants.
| St. Anthony's of Padua, |
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| Established 1849. |
| St. Anthony of Padua near Festina, |
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| A mission church. |
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA. This little church, located
over west of Festina, was first built in 1849 and was the first Catholic Mission north of Dubuque. Initially constructed
of wood, it was redone in stone.
It was an upshot of a vow by Johann Gaertner's mother that she would
finance it if her son should survive the French war in Russia. Johann is buried there.
It appears that capacity would be eight adults seated.
| Mehl's Outbuilding, located just south |
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| of Dorchester. |
MEHL'S OUTBUILDING. This shed is located just south of the community
of Dorchester, Iowa. For a number of years, the owner and resident was a man named Arnold Haugen, of Norse extraction,
who seemed to know a bit about genealogy and history. For a number of years, a sign on the side of his shed read, "Trollhaugen," so
he must have had a sense of humor as well.
| The Main Building at Vesterheim, the Norwegian |
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| American Museum in Decorah. |
VESTERHEIM. The words mean "western home" in Norwegian.
It is a top flight ethnic museum speaking to that nationality and located in Decorah, Iowa.
The Italianate style structure was meant to be the Arlington Hotel
back in the 1870's and built on this site for the railroad was to pass nearby. The railroad line ran elsewhere
and the Arlington only lasted a decade. It has served as the Western Home for roughly 3/4 of a century.
| The Quandrud Home |
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| A Norwegian immigrant home on Balsam Road. |
Quandrud Home. The name is possibly
misspelled, but was built by Norwegian immigrants in Waterloo Township of Allamakee County. The log home, no longer
occupied, of course, is made up of two rooms and sits on a ridge overlooking what is now Balsam road. It housed
the parents and several children and described by one of the latter as a wonderful place to experience childhood.
| The Olsen Home |
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| Built in Waterloo Township of Allamakee in mid 1800's. |
THE OLSEN HOME. This log house was built
in the middle of the 1800's a few hundred yards south of W-16 and a similar distance east of Balsam Drive. After a time,
it was sided, perhaps to give it a more modern appearance. Originally, the residents could simply drive out to make
their way to destinations. Later, this became a controversial issue, due respective land ownership by others and accessibility.
The home is now idle but in use not too many years ago.
| Original St. Mary's Church, Dorchester, |
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| the remnants thereof. |
| St. Mary's Church, Dorchester, |
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| As it stands today. |
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