Laura Ingalls Wilder’s
Little House Country
By John A. Bass
When Laura Ingalls Wilder passed away on February 10, 1957, just three days after her 90th birthday, she left to the world a legacy. A “Little House” legacy. Then, at the time, we realized this little lady, this treasure is no longer with us. Immediately, we realized this isn’t the end, but is only the beginning. A beginning of the “Little House” world. “Little House” USA was born. Or “Little House” Country.
First, Laura’s home in Mansfield, Missouri, in which she called Rocky Ridge Farm was preserved, just as she left it and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Association, Inc. was formed by her local friends and neighbors. Her daughter, whom I call the “Little House” mastermind, Rose Wilder Lane was there to oversee this project. Rose kept Rocky Ridge Farm just as it was.
In the same year, 1957, “Little Town on the Prairie” in which Laura lived for many years of her life, organized the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, Inc. of De Smet, South Dakota. Historical markers and plaques were placed at the different sites in De Smet. Over the years to come, work and commemoration for Laura and her “Little Houses” weren’t yet complete. This was still only the beginning. In 1971-1973, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society was found.
In September 1962, the park in the Village of Pepin, Wisconsin was named in her honor. It became the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Park. A historical marker was erected there in her memory. In July 1974, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, Inc. of Pepin, Wisconsin was found. This site was her birthplace. The “Little House Wayside” was historically marked, at the original site, where Laura was born, on February 7, 1867.
In 1965, the Franklin County Historical and Museum Society of Malone, New York erected a historical marker at the birthplace and boyhood home of Laura’s husband, Almanzo James Wilder, which she wrote her second book about, entitled “Farmer Boy”. Years later, on May 22, 1987, the Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder Association was officially organized in Burke, New York. The Association owns and operates the original farm and home and replica barns.
In 1974, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Tourist and Information Center and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Committee was formed at the request of Harold & Della Gordon, whom at the time, owned the “On the Banks of Plum Creek” site, where the Ingalls family once lived. Later, in 1979-1980, the Wilder Committee and the town of Walnut Grove, Minnesota opened a museum in Laura’s honor. In 1978, the Wilder Pageant Committee was found and they created “Fragments of a Dream”, which is an annual pageant performance or reenactment of that era.
In June-September 1974, after it was discovered in 1973, that the Ingalls family lived and worked there, local citizens in the town of Burr Oak, Iowa bought the old Masters Hotel (where the Ingalls family lived from 1876-1877) and formed this original site building, opening in July 1976, as the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. Since, this site has become on the National Register of Historic Places, which is an honor, within itself. In June 1995 & April 1997, the property additions of the park were added. This site is now the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum, Inc.
In 1972, it was discovered that the Ingalls family lived in Rutland Township, near Independence, Kansas, where Carrie was born. Margaret Gray Clement wrote a research on “Little House on the Prairie”, for the many questions, the Independence Chamber of Commerce were receiving about Laura. In 1977, the current land owners of this property, Bill & Wilma Kurtis cooperated in the creation and production of the “Little House on the Prairie” Site. Local volunteers reproduced the “Little House” with building a replica log cabin. A historical marker, to match, was placed next to the house.
In 1976, the South Troy American Heritage Community Church/Iowa - Minnesota District Wesleyan Church erected a historical marker (monument) in remembrance of the Ingalls family living in Wabasha County and the death of Laura’s brother, Charles Frederick Ingalls, 100 years earlier, in 1876.
Over the years of developing the “Little House” sites, the local historical society of Spring Valley, Minnesota, which was found in January 1956, wanted to commemorate that the Wilders and Laura, herself, also lived there. So they began to be noted, “A Laura Ingalls Wilder Site”.
Years later, in 1992, John Bass of Shreveport, Louisiana formed a new organization, Ingalls-Wilder-Lane Historic Alliance, which was officially organized in 1995. IWL was formed and found to develop new “Little House” sites, places where Laura and her family lived, that weren’t marked or with a site to visit. Many projects flew up in the air all at once, but could only tackle one at a time, due to the time consuming efforts and the high cost of purchasing historical markers.
In 1996, the development of a site in Brookfield, Wisconsin, commemorates the birthplace of Laura’s Ma, Caroline Lake Quiner Holbrook Ingalls, which was one of the first new sites arranged, along with the local historical society in that area, and founded by IWL. A historical marker was placed here, paid for by a local family, that raised the money to purchase it.
That same year, 1996, IWL started the work and development of another new discovery. This site wasn’t apart of the “Little House” books series, probably because these were silent years, for Laura, herself was too young to remember any details of this home. Perhaps, Pa and Ma never discussed this home after they moved away. This was where the family traveled to and lived for a year, after leaving Pepin, Wisconsin and before moving to Kansas. It was in Rothville, Missouri. On Sunday, October 12, 2003, IWL and the local historical society dedicated this site and uncovered the brand new historical marker to hundreds of interested visitors.
In 2003, IWL presented a beautiful engraved plaque to display for the many visitors that visit the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton, Iowa, where Mary Ingalls attended from 1881-1889.
There are many other sites to be found, placing historical markers and signage in the towns where members of the “Little House” family lived. As we continue to develop a site & place a historical marker for the birthplace of Charles Philip Ingalls, Laura’s Pa, in Cuba, New York, and many others, our work will be done.
For Laura, herself, all the places where she actually lived have been commemorated with a site, museum, and historical marker, except one place. For over 10 years now, IWL has been working toward this long processed project. Finally, on Sunday, October 8, 2006, we are historically marking her last home site, in Westville, Florida. In celebrating 50 years of commemoration of Laura’s “Little Houses”, we are adding to the many sites, her last, which is now historically marked.
In the spring & summer of 2007, the original “Little House” sites are planning memorable landmark days of celebrations, that no “Little House” fan or researcher would want to miss! This year, 2007, marks the 50th year of Laura’s death and the 50th anniversary of the original sites, found in 1957. Please make plans to attend these festivities during this time. For further information, check the web sites and write us for more information. Laura Ingalls Wilder’s
Little House Country
By John A. Bass
When Laura Ingalls Wilder passed away on February 10, 1957, just three days after her 90th birthday, she left to the world a legacy. A “Little House” legacy. Then, at the time, we realized this little lady, this treasure is no longer with us. Immediately, we realized this isn’t the end, but is only the beginning. A beginning of the “Little House” world. “Little House” USA was born. Or “Little House” Country.
First, Laura’s home in Mansfield, Missouri, in which she called Rocky Ridge Farm was preserved, just as she left it and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Association, Inc. was formed by her local friends and neighbors. Her daughter, whom I call the “Little House” mastermind, Rose Wilder Lane was there to oversee this project. Rose kept Rocky Ridge Farm just as it was.
In the same year, 1957, “Little Town on the Prairie” in which Laura lived for many years of her life, organized the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, Inc. of De Smet, South Dakota. Historical markers and plaques were placed at the different sites in De Smet. Over the years to come, work and commemoration for Laura and her “Little Houses” weren’t yet complete. This was still only the beginning. In 1971-1973, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society was found.
In September 1962, the park in the Village of Pepin, Wisconsin was named in her honor. It became the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Park. A historical marker was erected there in her memory. In July 1974, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, Inc. of Pepin, Wisconsin was found. This site was her birthplace. The “Little House Wayside” was historically marked, at the original site, where Laura was born, on February 7, 1867.
In 1965, the Franklin County Historical and Museum Society of Malone, New York erected a historical marker at the birthplace and boyhood home of Laura’s husband, Almanzo James Wilder, which she wrote her second book about, entitled “Farmer Boy”. Years later, on May 22, 1987, the Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder Association was officially organized in Burke, New York. The Association owns and operates the original farm and home and replica barns.
In 1974, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Tourist and Information Center and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Committee was formed at the request of Harold & Della Gordon, whom at the time, owned the “On the Banks of Plum Creek” site, where the Ingalls family once lived. Later, in 1979-1980, the Wilder Committee and the town of Walnut Grove, Minnesota opened a museum in Laura’s honor. In 1978, the Wilder Pageant Committee was found and they created “Fragments of a Dream”, which is an annual pageant performance or reenactment of that era.
In June-September 1974, after it was discovered in 1973, that the Ingalls family lived and worked there, local citizens in the town of Burr Oak, Iowa bought the old Masters Hotel (where the Ingalls family lived from 1876-1877) and formed this original site building, opening in July 1976, as the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. Since, this site has become on the National Register of Historic Places, which is an honor, within itself. In June 1995 & April 1997, the property additions of the park were added. This site is now the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum, Inc.
In 1972, it was discovered that the Ingalls family lived in Rutland Township, near Independence, Kansas, where Carrie was born. Margaret Gray Clement wrote a research on “Little House on the Prairie”, for the many questions, the Independence Chamber of Commerce were receiving about Laura. In 1977, the current land owners of this property, Bill & Wilma Kurtis cooperated in the creation and production of the “Little House on the Prairie” Site. Local volunteers reproduced the “Little House” with building a replica log cabin. A historical marker, to match, was placed next to the house.
In 1976, the South Troy American Heritage Community Church/Iowa - Minnesota District Wesleyan Church erected a historical marker (monument) in remembrance of the Ingalls family living in Wabasha County and the death of Laura’s brother, Charles Frederick Ingalls, 100 years earlier, in 1876.
Over the years of developing the “Little House” sites, the local historical society of Spring Valley, Minnesota, which was found in January 1956, wanted to commemorate that the Wilders and Laura, herself, also lived there. So they began to be noted, “A Laura Ingalls Wilder Site”.
Years later, in 1992, John Bass of Shreveport, Louisiana formed a new organization, Ingalls-Wilder-Lane Historic Alliance, which was officially organized in 1995. IWL was formed and found to develop new “Little House” sites, places where Laura and her family lived, that weren’t marked or with a site to visit. Many projects flew up in the air all at once, but could only tackle one at a time, due to the time consuming efforts and the high cost of purchasing historical markers.
In 1996, the development of a site in Brookfield, Wisconsin, commemorates the birthplace of Laura’s Ma, Caroline Lake Quiner Holbrook Ingalls, which was one of the first new sites arranged, along with the local historical society in that area, and founded by IWL. A historical marker was placed here, paid for by a local family, that raised the money to purchase it.
That same year, 1996, IWL started the work and development of another new discovery. This site wasn’t apart of the “Little House” books series, probably because these were silent years, for Laura, herself was too young to remember any details of this home. Perhaps, Pa and Ma never discussed this home after they moved away. This was where the family traveled to and lived for a year, after leaving Pepin, Wisconsin and before moving to Kansas. It was in Rothville, Missouri. On Sunday, October 12, 2003, IWL and the local historical society dedicated this site and uncovered the brand new historical marker to hundreds of interested visitors.
In 2003, IWL presented a beautiful engraved plaque to display for the many visitors that visit the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton, Iowa, where Mary Ingalls attended from 1881-1889.
There are many other sites to be found, placing historical markers and signage in the towns where members of the “Little House” family lived. As we continue to develop a site & place a historical marker for the birthplace of Charles Philip Ingalls, Laura’s Pa, in Cuba, New York, and many others, our work will be done.
For Laura, herself, all the places where she actually lived have been commemorated with a site, museum, and historical marker, except one place. For over 10 years now, IWL has been working toward this long processed project. Finally, on Sunday, October 8, 2006, we are historically marking her last home site, in Westville, Florida. In celebrating 50 years of commemoration of Laura’s “Little Houses”, we are adding to the many sites, her last, which is now historically marked.
In the spring & summer of 2007, the original “Little House” sites are planning memorable landmark days of celebrations, that no “Little House” fan or researcher would want to miss! This year, 2007, marks the 50th year of Laura’s death and the 50th anniversary of the original sites, found in 1957. Please make plans to attend these festivities during this time. For further information, check the web sites and write us for more information.
