Chippewa Falls in Chippewa County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Pioneer Norwegian Log Home

Photographed by Keith L, April 27, 2011

1. Pioneer Norwegian Log Home Marker

Inscription. This log house, constructed of hand-hewn White Pine logs, was built by Norwegian immigrant Ole Pederson Bjerke about 1881. Ole and his wife Mari had three sons: Gus, John, and Charles.

Around 1880, Ole had applied for a Homestead in the Chippewa County township of Colburn, nine miles east of Cornell. The log home was built at that site and lived in by Ole and Mari until their deaths in 1905 and 1908. Their descendants occupied it until 1953.

In February of 1979 the Clement Bayerl family, a great-grandson of Ole Bjerke, donated the log home to the Chippewa County Historical Society. It was moved to this site by the Mitchell House Moving Company and restored to pioneer standards by Mike Young. The CC Historical Society furnished the log home and in 1987 donated it to the City of Chippewa Falls for Irvine Park.

Chippewa County Historical Society
Marker Sign #24

Erected by the Chippewa County Historical Society. (Marker Number 24.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Norwegian-Americans series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1979.

Location. 44° 57.181′ N, 91° 24.19′ W. Marker is in Chippewa

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Falls, Wisconsin, in Chippewa County. It can be reached from the intersection of Ermatinger Drive and Wolfe Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in Irvine Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chippewa Falls WI 54729, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

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 the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sunny Valley School (a few steps from this marker); Bear Den Road Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); William Irvine (approx. 0.3 miles away); In Memory of Old Abe (approx. 0.4 miles away); Irvine Park Drive Bridge (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Chippewa Valley Electric Railway Co. (approx. half a mile away); Northern Wisconsin State Fair (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chippewa Falls.

Pioneer Norwegian Log Home and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, April 27, 2011

2. Pioneer Norwegian Log Home and Marker

Pioneer Norwegian Log Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, April 27, 2011

3. Pioneer Norwegian Log Home

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,622 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 22, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.