Ascendant - handcrafted stairwell in the abandoned Torgerson farm homestead

by Peter Herman

Title

Ascendant - handcrafted stairwell in the abandoned Torgerson farm homestead

Artist

Peter Herman

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

This staircase to second level in the Torgerson homestead (circa 1900) is unique - very very narrow/difficult to climb/descend due to the narrowness and encroaching ceiling, but it was obviously built with care and attention to detail. I have greatly enjoyed photographing at this picturesque abandoned farmsite/homestead location on the shores of Lake Ibsen a few times now, and it seems the sky is always very moody when I'm there, which kind of suits the scene. I love the architecture of this very small, but still distinguished home - the "L" shape floor plan, the very steep roof pitch (maybe Nordic settlers who knew a bit about snow loading?), the little ornamental siding details in the roof-wall sections. This time I noticed, for the first time, a very large diameter (about 6') hand-dug and cement-lined well. I am very careful when I explore/photograph these types of places, as just last year, a Saskatchewan photographer perished by falling into one. One of these years, I'll go out here and the place will be gone - accidentally burned or just blown-down or collapsed, but I'll have theses photos! (And about a dozen wood ticks that hitched a ride on me from this shoot!) Many other images from this location are available in my gallery - search "Torgerson"

I have learned a bit about the homesteader, Gunder Torgerson, who built this home. He was from Satersdalen, Christiansandstift, Norway, born October 22, 1842. The family came to America in 1861 and settled in Winneshiek County, Iowa, where he farmed. He acquired a small farm in that county and made his home there until 1883. Two years prior to that time he had made a visit to North Dakota in the spring of 1881. In 1883 he sold his farm in Iowa and came to Benson County to take up government land. He first filed a pre-emption claim to a tract of land south of Church’s Ferry and lived there about one year and then took up a homestead claim at this location. Mr. Torgeson was married, in 1865, to Miss Gunild Salveson, they had 9 children together.

Image captured April 27, 2020

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November 19th, 2021

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