Moorhead in Clay County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Homestead Park

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2024

1. Homestead Park Marker

Inscription.
Bergquist Cabin
Bergquist Cabin, originally owned by John Bergquist, was built in 1872 and is the oldest home in Moorhead still on its original site. John Bergquist would go on to establish a brickyard and help build Moorhead from the ground up. The cabin was home to several different families over the next century and had numerous updates. The Bergquist Pioneer Cabin Society began a three-year restoration project in 1979 to restore the cabin to its original form.

Peterson Farm
The cabin was purchased by the Peterson family in 1904 who used the site to farm vegetables. Hank Peterson, who contracted with the US War Department in 1944 and 1945, used German prisoners of war to help harvest crops, maintain buildings, and perform other tasks during the summer months before returning to Camp Algona in Algona, Iowa. 195 prisoners came to Moorhead over those two years — many would send letters thanking Peterson and the community for their kind treatment. The barracks for the prisoners was located near 4th Ave N and 21st St N.

Erected by Moorhead River Corridor Trail; City of Moorhead, Minnesota; and Greater Minnesota Regional

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Parks & Trails Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 46° 53.162′ N, 96° 46.131′ W. Marker is in Moorhead, Minnesota, in Clay County. It is on 7th Street North just south of 11th Avenue North, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located at the northeast corner of the namesake Homestead Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1008 7th Street North, Moorhead MN 56560, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Bergquist (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bergquist Cabin (within shouting

Marker detail: Restoration of Bergquist Cabin image. Click for full size.

Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County

2. Marker detail: Restoration of Bergquist Cabin

distance of this marker); National Guard and Armory (approx. 0.3 miles away); In Honor of Those Who Have Served in Defense of Our Country (approx. 0.4 miles away); The First Bridge over the Red River (approx. 0.8 miles away); Veterans Memorial Bridge (approx. 0.9 miles away); St, John's Episcopal Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Ford Building (approx. 0.9 miles away in North Dakota). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Moorhead.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Homestead Park

Also see . . . Henry Peterson Farm (Minnesota State University).

Excerpt: Henry Peterson was born October 23, 1904, in Moorhead, Minnesota. He was the third son of Charles and Louise Peterson. Henry was born the same year that his father purchased his first 20 acre in what is now north Moorhead. Henry grew up on this farm raised by his father; his mother died when he was three years old.
Hank’s half century experience in managing farm operations earned him a reputation throughout the Red River Valley as a leading agricultural innovator and, at one time, the largest producer of vegetables in Minnesota. The Petersons bought more land and increased their holdings to 2120 acres. The Petersons were continually trying new ideas, such as irrigation, using beet tops for feed, and planting Victory Gardens in World War II. With crops like onions, potatoes, and sugar beets, labor played a very important part on the farm. The Petersons had employed men year round as well as seasonal workers. During World War II, as a result of the labor shortage, 150 German prisoners of war (POWs) were sent to Moorhead from a camp in Iowa to work from June through November.

(Submitted on February 27, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Prisoners work on re-shingling a building image. Click for full size.

Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County

3. Marker detail: Prisoners work on re-shingling a building

Bergquist Cabin Today image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2024

4. Bergquist Cabin Today

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2024

5. Homestead Park Marker

Looking south from 7th Street North; Homestead Park is in the background. The Homestead Park interpretive trail continues south through the park on the left.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 27, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.