INTRODUCTION

The farms of the Port Oneida area are typical of the turn of the century farms throughout the Midwest. It is rare, however, to find such a large collection of older farms that are free from modern development. The district is historically significant because it conveys the land use practices, architecture and evolution of agricultural technology common to subsistence farms of the upper Great Lakes region. Port Oneida was farmed for over 100 years; the houses and fields passed down from generation to generation. The National Park Service is preparing a plan for the preservation of the area and the public is invited to participate.

HISTORY

The area was open for settlement in 1852 and by 1860 had a population of 87 people. Many of the settlers came from Germany. Thomas Kelderhouse built a dock to sell cordwood to the passing steamships. The ships provided a market for fresh produce and firewood. Maple sugar was an important product during the early years because it would survive the long trip to eastern cities. It is said that the area took its name from the first ship to stop at the dock, the S.S. ONEIDA, from New York State.

From 1860 until World War II, Port Oneida was a closely-knit farming community. Throughout the seasons, neighbors worked together planting, harvesting and threshing. Grains and hay were grown to feed sheep, pigs, cows, poultry and horses. Potatoes were the main cash crop. Fruit and vegetables were produced for family use. By the 1920’s, farming was a second job for most farm owners because productivity was low on these sandy soils.

EXPLORING

We hope you will take some time to experience this 3000-acre historic landscape. The map will help you locate the National Lakeshore-owned farms and lands that you are encouraged to explore. Please respect private property. For safety, do not enter any building and be cautious around them. In addition to houses and barns, the farms have many specialized buildings. See if you can recognize the corn cribs, chicken coops, granaries, silos, brooder houses, milk house and sugarhouse.

You may wish to hike through the fields at the Dechow farm to the pasture barn and then search for the maple sugar shack along the fencerow of large trees. Or perhaps hike from the Miller barn to the overlook on the Bay View trail for a full panorama of Port Oneida, Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands. Drive past the Thoreson farm to the top of the hill for a spectacular view of the countryside and the Manitou Passage. Tours are presented weekly in July and August. If you have questions, stop at the Visitor Center in Empire or call (231)326-5134. A detailed history of Port Oneida can be purchased at the Visitor Center. Enjoy your visit to this historic landscape!

During recent years, there has been a movement toward increased awareness and appreciation of America’s cultural landscapes. Since the 1980’s, the National Park Service has been a leading organization in this movement, and has begun to consider new management techniques for many of its properties where human interaction with the land has been especially significant.

The use of land for agriculture, natural resources extraction, and recreation - all of which occurred prior to the establishment of the Lakeshore - has left indelible imprints on the landscape. The task of identifying the cultural traces that are significant and worthy of preservation and interpretation is a challenge for park managers. Determining the most appropriate management goals for historic landscapes in the park is a complicated task that often involves making comparisons between two distinct resource management views. It involves integrating decision-making efforts in order to preserve both natural and cultural landscape resources. To help park staff deal with these issues, three reports have been completed concerning the agricultural resources in the park, with the fourth to be completed in 1998.

These three important reports are:

A Garden Apart: An Agricultural and Settlement History of Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Region

Farming at the Water’s Edge: An Assessment of Agricultural and Cultural Landscape Resources in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

Coming Through With Rye: An Historic Agricultural Landscape Study of South Manitou Island at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

The fourth and final report will be published in 1999 and will address the agricultural resources on North Manitou Island. These reports are available at the Visitor Center and at the Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor, MI.

The publication of the reports has helped place the Port Oneida Rural Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in June of 1997. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is also to writing a management plan for these resources in which the public is invited to participate. All interested individuals should contact the Park Historical Architect, Kimberly Mann, at Park Headquarters, (231) 326-5134 to find out more information and to have your name added to the list.

During your visit please pick up one or all of these reports and venture out into these cultural landscapes to enjoy the structures, vegetation, and land features that remain from this time in Sleeping Bear Dunes history.

Last updated: 8/28/2000
Http://www.nps.gov/slbe/portoneida.htm