Background: Travel the back roads of North Dakota’s prairies, and you’ll discover a wealth of striking vernacular architecture. Many of these symbols of westward settlement are now deserted, and one by one pieces of America’s history are being lost. The Hutmacher Farmstead, although not yet 100 years old, is one of the last (and possibly the best) examples of stone-slab construction in the state. This particular building style was brought to North Dakota by German-speaking immigrants from the Black Sea region of Russia and the Ukraine.
In building their farm in the 1920s, the Hutmachers out of necessity drew from a variety of materials found close at hand. The stone-slab building technique suited the family’s need for economical shelter and was remarkably durable in the harsh, resource-poor environment. The farm complex includes the house – occupied from 1928 through 1963 and expanded as needed – as well as a below-grade cellar, the ruins of a barn, a summer kitchen/butchering house, a poultry barn, and a garage. These buildings have attracted interest from scholars of vernacular building traditions, both in North America and as far away as Hong Kong, because of their excellent environmental adaptation to the Northern Great Plains.
Project: The buildings at the Hutmacher Farmstead were highly labor intensive to construct and to maintain. Materials used in construction were Badlands cedar rafters with a cottonwood ridge beam to support a roof of small branches and straw sealed with clay. Exterior walls of ashlar sandstone slabs and clay mortar were originally covered with plaster made of clay and chopped straw. Conservators are currently running tests to learn more about the composition of the clay mortar and plaster, while experts on site are exploring different mixes of aggregate, soil and lime to try and create mixtures that match the original. These mixes will be tested through the winter, and results will be assessed during the spring.
Preservation work is equally as intense and is expected to take several years. During work at the site in 2007, workshop volunteers removed three loads of debris from the site, inventoried the artifacts on location, did a current structural assessment of the property, shoveled as much as three feet of earth out of the farmhouse, temporarily raised the outhouse, rebuilt the original clothesline, installed bracing on the summer kitchen, rebuilt the smokehouse and removed collapsed portions of the roof and ceiling on the farmhouse. Archeologists uncovered traces of buildings and building components that have provided clues to the lifestyle and subsistence of the Hutmacher family.
In 2008, participants will be working on several features of the main house. The most crucial element is rebuilding the roof, which involves timber framing and grass thatch covered with a clay mixture. They will also be doing stone masonry work to stabilize the walls, which will then be tuck-pointed with clay mortar. A detailed work plan has been developed by Ed Crocker, an earthen architecture expert from Santa Fe, New Mexico, who will be on-site for one day to work with participants, discuss materials conservation issues, and answer questions. Dale Bentley, of Preservation North Dakota, will lead the project.
Logistics: Traveling in western North Dakota may surprise you with its amazing scenery. The picturesque Badlands is painted in bold reds, yellows, blacks and greens with large veins of coal (some of which was used to heat the Hutmacher house) and other minerals. The rugged Little Missouri Breaks Country was sculpted by wind, water and sand, and called "Mako Shika" or "where the land breaks" by the Sioux for its unusual land formations, which provide some of the state's most awe-inspiring scenery. Little Missouri National Grasslands is home to a great herd of buffalo and remarkable scenery such as the fossil trees – a vast plain of petrified wood, sometimes entire trunks sticking our at impossible angles. North Dakota has much to offer if you care to add several days for touring before or after the workshop. A visit to the nearby Dunn County Historical Society and Museum, which houses the largest collection of Leo Harris black & white photos in existence, will provide a complete introduction to the area's history.
The workshop will be one week in length, with participants arriving on Sunday and leaving on Saturday. The cost is $490, which covers lodging, lunch (breakfast and evening meals not included), instruction, evening entertainment, fieldtrips, and insurance. Keep in mind that in rural mid-America, meals are referred to as breakfast, dinner (at noon), and supper, so don’t be confused. Transportation to the workshop is not included and is the responsibility of the participant.
The Hutmacher Farmstead is located on state Highway 22 about 20 minutes north of the Interstate 94 intersection at Dickinson, North Dakota. If flying to the region, major airports are located in Bismarck and Minot. The Bismarck airport may be more convenient as there are a greater number of flights with a connecting shuttle flight to Dickinson. Car rental is available in Dickinson, and from there it is a 30 minute drive north to Killdeer, the town nearest the worksite, where restaurants and groceries are available.
Participants will stay in a rustic cabin at the Naard Creek Ranch, located 20 miles northwest of Killdeer and 25 minutes from the Hutmacher site. The two-bedroom cabin with sleeping loft has a kitchen with all appliances and a modern bath with tub and shower. Linens are provided. Food for breakfast can be purchased in town and kept in the kitchen. Lunches will be provided at the farm site.
If you prefer camping to staying in a cabin, camp sites are available at the Eastview Campgrounds fifteen minutes north of Killdeer. A bathroom and shower house are provided. Those camping must make their own reservations by calling 701-764-8000. Sites without electricity are $15/night; sites with electricity are $20/night. The workshop fee for people choosing to camp is $340.
Work hours at the Hutmacher farm are generally Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, with a break for lunch. A member of the Hutmacher family who lived at the farm site for 30 years will join the group for one lunch and talk about his experience growing up there. One evening’s entertainment will be provided by local cowboy poets. Other evenings can be spent touring local sites, or enjoying spectacular star gazing from Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit). Instruction will be in English.
The average daytime high the last week of May is 70 F (21 C), with significantly cooler temperatures at night. Conditions are often quite windy with the benefit of no bugs to bother you! Bring gloves, hard soled shoes with closed toes, wide-brimmed hat, and clothing that is suitable for the weather that will also be protective while working. Also bring bottled water to the site and insect repellent for calm days. Please be conscious that safety is an important issue at any work site.
If you need additional information, please contact us at workshops@heritageconservation.net or call +1 303-444-0128.
Cost: $490* - cabin accommodations; $340* - camping on your own
* Plus transportation to the site