Harlow Farms First Homestead
Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan
Marker Inscription
Harlow Farms First Homestead The dry stacked stone basement foundation before you is all that remains of the Amos and Olive Harlow homestead here at Harlow Farms. The Harlows were one of the earliest pioneering families in Marquette, arriving by steamship in 1849. Amos built a sawmill and this small house here in the late 1850's. The picture was taken of the homestead in the 1870's looking north from across the creek behind you. The home was two stories with the first room for living and cooking and the second story for sleeping. The family named the farm "Eureka" because he discovered a bti of iron ore nearby. They raised vegetables and fruits at this farm and sold much of their produce to miners in the area. They all lived togethere here for the first few years, then Amos and Olive and their family built the grand home in town that still stands on south Fourth Street. Olives mother, Martha Bacon stayed at the farm and lived here for the next seventeen years. Amos and Olive built a fine home for Martha next door to theirs and finally got her to move to town in 1874, and then she died the very next day! The farm was worked until the late 1800's. The forest eventually closed in, leaving only remnants of the stone piles along fences, a few apple trees that are still growing up on the hill, and this old foundation. Courtesy of: Harbour View Development Corp. Developers of Harlow Farms
Erected by Harbour View Development Corp. Developers of Harlow Farms
The Story
Amos and Olive Harlow were among Marquette's founding pioneers, arriving by steamship on Lake Superior in 1849 as Michigan's Upper Peninsula iron country opened up. On this farm, which they named Eureka after Amos found iron ore nearby, they built a sawmill and raised produce to sell to the region's miners. Only this dry-stacked stone foundation, a few apple trees, and stone fence lines remain.
Why it matters
The homestead marks the frontier settlement of the Lake Superior iron ranges, an industry that helped build industrial America.
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Related people
- · Amos Harlow
- · Olive Harlow
- · Martha Bacon
Themes & tags
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