Wayside: Port Oneida's First Homestead

"Port Oneida's First Homestead" wayside sign at the Carsten & Elizabeth Burfiend Farm, Port Oneida

Quick Facts

Location:

44° 57' 9.27" N, 85° 56' 26.088" W

Amenities

1 listed

Audio Description

Main Exhibit Text

In 1846, Carsten Burfiend, age 20, left Hanover, Germany, for the United States. He arrived in New York City, married a 17-year-old French girl, Elizabeth James, and later headed west seeking a new home for his family. He worked as a logger and fisherman on North Manitou Island saving money to send for his family, but he longed for his own farm. When treaties with the Anishinaabek opened the area to immigrants, Carsten purchased 275 acres on this bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. Carsten and Elizabeth supported their eleven children by farming, gardening, ferrying passengers to and from the islands, and commercial fishing. Their son, Peter, and later their grandson, Howard, also farmed this land. Carsten, Elizabeth, and some of their children are buried here.

Image Descriptions

Background Image

The background of this exhibit is a sepia-colored historic photograph of the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The view is looking down from a high bluff, out over Port Oneida to the lake. One main road is visible starting on the right side of the exhibit and extending across the landscape and into the background. There are four properties, each with a driveway leading to a large house. A "You Are Here" marker indicates where you are standing now.

Caption

Port Oneida from former 1930s viewing tower

Historic Photograph (bottom left)

In the bottom left corner of the exhibit is a black and white historic photograph of a house with people posing outside for a photo. The two-story house has light colored siding and dark trim, two chimneys and a large front porch. There are eight people sitting or standing around the front of the house, four men and four women.

Caption

The Burfiends lived in a log cabin for 40 years before Peter built this house. Howard and his wife, Orpha, built their house next door.

Historic Photograph (top right)

In the top right corner of the exhibit is a black and white historic photograph of a man and a woman. They are posed for the photo, with the man seated and the woman standing to the right, with her hand on his shoulder. The man is wearing a dark suit, and the woman is wearing a dark formal dress.

Caption

Carsten and Elizabeth Burfiend