Eitzen Farm

In the Good Harbor area, the Bufka, Kropp, and Eitzen Farms are located in their own cluster. The Eitzen farm is on Townline road near Sugar Loaf, south of M-22 near St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

In an interview with descendant Karen Eitzen Rennie, we have learned a lot about this property. The fieldstone foundation house was built by John Eitzen circa 1890. There is no front door that was used, instead the backdoor was the main entrance facing the barn and the courtyard configuration of outbuildings. There are two large barns and a chicken coop once used for horses. At one time the family offered horseback riding.

The farm had a small dairy operation as most did of the time. You can still see the cow stalls and stanchions in the barn. It is guessed that the barn was modified twice – in 1926 and 1945 to accommodate milking. The silo is now gone, but originally it was of concrete foundation and tiles, versus an all-cement or board silo.(built ca. 1910). It was 28 feet high. The corn crib with its customary slatted sides for air circulation, still sits on the property in need of repair. Can you guess why that was important? And, why it’s shape served a practical function?