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

The Bergquist Cabin

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2024

1. The Bergquist Cabin Marker

Inscription.

The Bergquist Cabin. . , Moorhead-Fargo grew up around this home. But the building didn't always look this way. It has undergone many changes as new owners added their touches. Some of the residents built additions to the house. By 1915, modern construction completely covered the logs. , In 1976, John Bergquist's grandson, long-time WDAY-TV weatherman Dewey Bergquist, inspired an effort to restore the cabin to its original appearance. Over the next three years, the Bergquist Pioneer Cabin Society members, the Bergquist family, and volunteers removed the new construction, dismantled and numbered each log, and then rebuilt the cabin on its original site. , The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County maintains the property. In honor of its significance to the Moorhead-Fargo community, this 14x20-foot pioneer cabin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. , Other Residents , The Houck Family (1884-1904) , Elijah and Betsy Houck bought this home from John Bergquist and lived here for 20 years. Elijah and Betsy Houck were 54 and 49 years old respectively when they purchased Bergquist's home. They had one adult daughter, Mary, who lived with them in the house. The Houcks kept a dairy and vegetable farm. , The Peterson Family (1904-1946) , Former Houck employee Charles Peterson and his wife, Louise, operated the farm as a very successful truck garden after Mr. Houck’s death in 1904. Louise died in 1906 leaving Charles with three young sons. Charles Peterson lived in this home until his death in 1946. , The Shamberger Family (1946-1967) , After Charles' death in 1946, Peterson Farms employee Ed Shamberger and his wife, Emma, moved into the home with their two children. Ed and Emma stayed there until 1967. , The house sat empty until the restoration in the late 1970s and early 1980s. , [photo captions] , . Aerial photo prior to restoration , . Cabin undergoing restoration , Thanks to Dr. Joy Lintelman and her Concordia College Fall 2012 Scandinavian Immigration class for their research. This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society, the Swedish Council of America, The Swedish Cultural Heritage Society of the Red River Valley, and the individuals listed here: , Carol Bergquist and Larry McDonough . Jim Bergquist and Jane Eastes . William Bergquist . Bob and Lori Feigum . J. Neil and Karol Kay Peterson Rood . Helen Rudie . Nancy and Ronald Saeger . Britt Swenson . David Watt . Kirk and Kathy Watt . Sherry and Tom Watt . Lavonne and Mark Woods

Moorhead-Fargo grew up around this home. But the building didn't always look this way. It has undergone many changes as new owners added their touches. Some of the residents built additions to the house. By 1915, modern construction completely covered the logs.

In 1976, John Bergquist's grandson, long-time WDAY-TV weatherman Dewey Bergquist, inspired an effort to restore the cabin to its original appearance. Over the next three years, the Bergquist Pioneer Cabin Society members, the Bergquist family, and volunteers removed the new construction, dismantled and numbered each log, and then rebuilt the cabin on its original site.

The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County maintains the property. In honor of its significance to the Moorhead-Fargo community, this 14x20-foot pioneer cabin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Other Residents
The Houck Family (1884-1904)
Elijah and Betsy Houck bought this home from John Bergquist and lived here for 20 years. Elijah and Betsy Houck were 54 and 49 years old respectively when they purchased Bergquist's home. They had one adult daughter, Mary, who lived with

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them in the house. The Houcks kept a dairy and vegetable farm.

The Peterson Family (1904-1946)
Former Houck employee Charles Peterson and his wife, Louise, operated the farm as a very successful truck garden after Mr. Houck’s death in 1904. Louise died in 1906 leaving Charles with three young sons. Charles Peterson lived in this home until his death in 1946.

The Shamberger Family (1946-1967)
After Charles' death in 1946, Peterson Farms employee Ed Shamberger and his wife, Emma, moved into the home with their two children. Ed and Emma stayed there until 1967.

The house sat empty until the restoration in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

[photo captions]
• Aerial photo prior to restoration
• Cabin undergoing restoration

Thanks to Dr. Joy Lintelman and her Concordia College Fall 2012 Scandinavian Immigration class for their research. This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society, the Swedish Council of America, The Swedish Cultural Heritage Society of the Red River Valley, and the individuals listed here:
Carol Bergquist and Larry McDonough • Jim Bergquist and Jane Eastes • William Bergquist • Bob and Lori Feigum • J. Neil and Karol Kay Peterson Rood • Helen Rudie • Nancy and Ronald Saeger • Britt Swenson • David Watt • Kirk and Kathy Watt • Sherry and Tom Watt • Lavonne and Mark Woods

Erected by Swedish

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2024

2. The Bergquist Cabin Marker

Looking south from 7th Street North; the Bergquist Cabin is in the background. This marker is the leftmost of two interpretive panels at this location.

Council of America and Minnesota Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1870.

Location. 46° 53.151′ N, 96° 46.152′ 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 near the northeast corner of Homestead Park, overlooking the Bergquist Cabin. 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

Bergquist Cabin (<i>front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2024

3. Bergquist Cabin (front elevation)

distance of this marker: John Bergquist (here, next to this marker); Homestead Park (within shouting distance of this marker); National Guard and Armory (approx. 0.4 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.

Regarding The Bergquist Cabin. National Register of Historic Places № 80002014.

From the National Register Nomination prepared by Tom Harvey, 9/1979:
The Bergquist Cabin, Moorhead's first permanent residence, is significant as an early, initial settlement structure and for its association with John G. Bergquist, active in the early development of Moorhead. Bergquist went to Moorhead in late 1869 and homesteaded along the Red River. His cabin was completed in March, 1870. The building is representative of early, permanent settlement in the Moorhead area. It was built not as a subsistence
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2024

4. Bergquist Cabin (construction detail)
structure, but as a modest home. Bergquist farmed and lived in the cabin until the 1880s.
In 1881, Bergquist purchased a parcel of land containing brick-quality clay and established a brickyard. He gave up his farming activities and focused his efforts on real estate development and construction in Moorhead. In 1882 he built the Bergquist Block, a substantial brick commercial building in downtown Moorhead. He subdivided his farmstead, donated the site for the Clay County Courthouse, and sold lots in the adjoining Bergquist Addition. In 1885 he built a substantial frame house near his brickyard east of town. Bergquist’s role in Moorhead’s development — from first settling through later development — is significant in the city's history.

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

Also see . . . The Bergquist Cabin (Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County).

Excerpt: The Bergquist Cabin is the oldest house in Moorhead on its original frontier site. The home was constructed in the early spring of 1871 by Swedish immigrant John Gustav Bergquist. He cut the trees
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2024

5. Bergquist Cabin and Homestead
on the other side of the Red River, in what's now Fargo's Oak Grove Park, and skidded the logs across the frozen water with rented oxen. The Swedish homesteader moved into the space by April and supplemented his farm income working on the railroad and selling milk door-to-door.
Today the Bergquist Cabin is owned and maintained by the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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

The Bergquist Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2024

6. The Bergquist Cabin

From the National Register Nomination: The Bergquist Cabin is located on a bend of the Red River within the city of Moorhead. The 14' x 20' building is constructed of hand-hewn oak logs measuring up to one foot in width. The logs have been squared, and saddle V-notching joins the logs. Loft joists in the 1½ story house are of frame construction. A simple gable roof runs the length of the building.

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 208 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 27, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.