16751 Kane Avenue
Nerstrand, MN, USA

Bonde Farmhouse

The Bonde Farmhouse is a historic farmhouse located in Wheeling Township in Rice County, Minnesota, United States, approximately 1 mile (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.

Structure

The Bonde Farmhouse is located off County Road 27 and Minnesota State Highway 246, 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 2+1⁄2-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 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 20th 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 homesteaded 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 on 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.

National Register of Historic Places - Bonde Farmhouse

Statement of Significance:

The Bonde Farmhouse is significant both for its association with a prominent immigrant family and for its notable local limestone construction and outstanding integrity. The farmstead was homesteaded by Einer Bonde who had emigrated from Norway with his family in 1854 to farm the fertile Midwestern soil. After a year in Iowa, the family settled in Wheeling Township in 1855 among a group of loosely organized Norwegian settlers. Einer’s son Tosten acquired the farm in 1865 and erected the spacious stone farmhouse in 1875, the year that his father died. Assorted farm statistics, building improvements and family and local notes are recorded in a journal that Tosten kept during the 1880s.

Tosten engaged successfully in diversified farming until his death in 1897 and figured prominently in the history of the Norwegian community that centered around the village of Nerstrand. He was a founder of the Wheeling Mutual Insurance Company in 1876 and served in the state legislature. The stone farmhouse and the core of early farm buildings reflect the success achieved by the Norwegian farmers who cleared and farmed the rich land of Wheeling Township. Bonde family descendants continue to spearhead the Wheeling Mutual Insurance Company, to farm the original family homestead, and reside in the stone house.