Hovander Homestead
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
Built in 1903, the Hovander House is a beautiful example of Stick/Eastlake architecture.
The Hovander Barn is quite large at 95-feet long and 65-feet long. It houses original farm equipment and tools.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Holand Hovander was a retired architect, and his wife and children arrived in Ferndale in 1898. Mr. Hovander bought 100 acres of land and lumber to build the house (they had to wait a few years for the wood to dry). Hovander also bought cattle, horses, and two orchards. Eventually, the farm produced eggs, meat, dairy products, fruit, and animal feed. Interestingly, being surrounded by water made getting to the homestead somewhat difficult. To solve this problem, the Hovanders used a boat to get across the river. In addition to being a productive farm, the house was also a popular place for neighbors to socialize and have dances.
Holand Hovander passed away in 1915 and his wife died in 1936. At that time, the property passed down to their youngest son, who eventually sold much of the property to the Whatcom County Park Board.
Sources
Ellingson, Roger. "Hovander Homestead." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. October 16, 1974. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/2c3960b8-0350-49a5-8f6f-444639ed44d4.
"Hovander Homestead Park." Whatcom County Parks & Recreation. Accessed February 4, 2020. http://www.whatcomcounty.us/1957/Hovander-Homestead-Park.
Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hovander_Homestead,_Ferndale,_Whatcom_County,_Washington.jpg
Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hovander_Barn.jpg