The Pete Larsen Farm is an historic site in Porter County, Indiana.
The property was purchased from the
Bailly Homestead by F. Burstrom in the early 1870s.[1]Swedish immigrant Peter Larson was a successful carpenter from
Chicago. He was a construction supervisor and spent little time at the farm, traveling home on weekends. He was more prosperous than many. He purchased a
Sears catalogue house and contracted help during construction.[2]
Historic Structures
Farm House - The house is a frame construction. It has two stories in a rectangle. The material was purchased from
Sears & Roebuck through their catalogue. Built between 1908 and 1910 it features intersecting
gable roof with a
front porch. The Lap siding is still original (2010). The foundation is
concrete block.[2]
Garage
Barn - A family story tells of Pete, bringing home an
Italian work crew one weekend. By Sunday, the barn was completed.[2] The barn is a small, two-story building of
frame construction. It has a
hay loft under a
gambrel roof. It was built ca 1920, replacing an earlier structure. It has a
concrete foundation with a wood lap exterior. The
Dutch door on east and west sides are original with the hay loft doors on both the north and south walls. A large vehicle door on north was added at a later time.[2]
References
^National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form; Selected Swedish Farmsteads of Porter County, Indiana; NPS Form 10-900- B; Kenneth R. Dodson, July 10, 1994
^
abcdPeter Larson Residence NR nomination, National Park Service; Porter, Indiana; 2008