Bailly Homestead
The Bailly Homestead, a National Historic Landmark, was the home of Honore Gratien Joseph Bailly de Messein (1774 - 1835). Bailly played a role in the development of the Calumet Region of northern Indiana. He was an independent trader in the extensive fur-trading network that spread from Montreal to Louisiana, and ultimately to Europe. Joseph Bailly was one of the earliest settlers in northern Indiana. In 1822 Bailly set up his fur trading post at the crossroads of several important trails, including the Tolleston Beach and northern branch of the Sauk Trail. He provided a meeting place for Native Americans and Euro-Americans. Except for White Pigeon, Michigan, Bailly's trading post was the only stopping place for travelers and missionaries between Chicago and Detroit. The Bailly Homestead complex is the last remaining site of its nature in the Calumet Region, both in its capacity as a fur trading post and in its vernacular architectural features and construction types. The Bailly Homestead was authorized as a National Historic Landmark in 1962.
Bailly acquired formal title to the Homestead and the surrounding tracts of land, totaling over 2,000 acres, in the 1830's when the Calumet Region was officially opened to Euro-American settlement. At his death title passed to his family. The Homestead proper was left to his wife and segments of the acreage to each of his children.
Chellberg Farm
The Chellberg Farm represents a typical 1890 through 1910 Swedish and Northwestern Indiana farmstead. The brick farmhouse was built in 1885 as a replacement for an earlier wood-framed house that was destroyed by fire in December of 1884. The bricks for the new house came from a brickyard in nearby Porter. In the 1980s the National Park Service restored the farmhouse to its turn of the 20th century appearance, except for the dining room, which had been modified by the Chellbergs in the 1920s
Anders and Johanna Chellberg, with their young son Charles, made the long journey from Sweden to this country in 1863. Traveling first by boat and then by train, the Chellbergs arrived here four months after their departure from Sweden. After their arrival in northwest Indiana, the Chellbergs became part of a growing Swedish community. They often gave other immigrants a place to stay and helped them find work. In 1869, the Chellbergs purchased 40 acres of land and established their own farm. Forty additional acres had been added to the farm by 1874.
More can be read at the National Park Service web site ww.nps.gov
The listed coordinates will take you to the parking lot. Leave your car behind and take a step back in time more than a century ago. Near the southwest corner of the lot you can grab a trail map if you like then begin your quest.
Please observe park hours and rules.
To log this cache you will need to gather some information from the plaques at the waypoints plus some acute observations
Email or message me the answers to the following eight questions. No need to wait for a reply to log your find. Do not post your answers in your log. If you do I'll have to delete it. I’ll give extra credit (virtual extra credit that is) to those who hike out to the cemetery but it is not required. Also photos are not required but highly encouraged. If you only go to the waypoints the walk is less than a mile.
Bailly Homestead
Waypoint 1: The Calument region1822-1835
Question 1) Look at the map on the plaque. Notice the lake just to the east of Wolf Lake. This lake no longer exists. What was the name of that lake?
Waypoint 2: Joseph Bailly, fur trader
Question 2) When the Beaver fur trading business came to an end, what new business did Joseph Bailly open to supplement his income? 5/28/18, It has come to my attention that the sign at this waypoint is missing. You may skip this question for now.
Waypoint 3: The Bailly homestead
Question 3) In 1833 Joesph Bailly received $6000 for his services in the Chicago Treaty. With this money began construction of the main house. How many years did he live in the main house before he died?
Waypoint 4: Highway to the past
Question 4) Near the main house is a brick house constructed in the late 1870’s. Who was this house built for?
Observation:
Question 5) Look around the homestead. How many log buildings are there?
Chellberg Farm
Waypoint 5: Chellberg Farm and the Swedish community
Question 6) In one of the photos, who is operating the hay rake? Operating, not who purchased. There has been some confusion here.
Question 7) The Augsburg Lutheran Church was established in 1858. What year did they stop holding services in Swedish?
Observation:
Question 8) Walk around the farmhouse. How many chimneys does it have?
That's it. You're done. I hope you enjoyed this park as much as I have over the years. I have many fond memories of autumn hikes here when my children were young.
Placed with permission From National Park Service(thanks Rich).
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.