George Hutzler Farm

George and Margaretha Hutzler were among the first farming families to settle on South Manitou Island. Hutzler filed a homestead ap

plication in 1863, and by 1868 the family had built a house, two barns, and had cultivated 15 acres of land. The family also owned six horses, ten milk cows, sixteen other cattle, and four work oxen.

Over the next ten years the farm grew in size and produced crops such as barley, corn, rye, wheat, oat, potatoes, peas, beans, peaches and apples. After the deaths of George and Margaretha in 1888 and 1906, respectively, their son Johnny continued to op

erate the farm until his death in 1944, and the property was eventually purchased in the 1970′s by the park service. The barn which had been built for livestock was destroyed by fire in the 1930′s, but several building still remain today.

The two-story house still stands and is in good condition. The pig barn also remains, as well as a somewhat unstable carriage house. The privy is still in good condition, and there are also remains of a shed or animal pen, as well the ruins of a shack which may have been used for moonshine production. Odd tools and utensils can be found near the both the shed and the shack, and there is a small trail leading to the farm’s grave sites.