Enlarge

Palo House, 1997

Town of Oulu, Wisconsin. Palo House prior to restoration. View the property record: AHI 15556

When Wisconsin northwoods logging declined in the early 20th century, lumber companies sold off the stump-covered "cutovers" as homesteads. Many of these parcels were sold to newly-arrived immigrants eager for farmland unavailable in their homeland. That was the case for John Palo, a Finnish immigrant, who bought property in Bayfield County in 1909.

Enlarge

John and Justina Palo Homestead, 2002

Town of Oulu, Wisconsin. Homestead after restoration, house and sauna building. View the property record: AHI 15556

Enlarge

John and Justina Palo House, 2002

Town of Oulu, Wisconsin. Interior dovetail corner notching in log wall. View the property record: AHI 15556

Palo's property was in the town of Oulu, where three-quarters of the homesteaders were Finns. He built a log house and a number of outbuildings, including a combination woodshed, shop, and sauna. Saunas were an important part of Finnish homesteads. In fact, they were often the second building constructed after the house - or even built before the house and used as temporary shelter until the house was completed.

Logs used for the house were carefully fit together with full dovetail corner notches, cut so that they were drawn together as the house settled. The exterior of the house was covered with clapboard to ensure it was weather tight. The interior left the logs exposed.

Though John Palo died in 1949, and his wife Tini in 1977, the property has stayed in the family to the present day. Palo's grandson Duane Lahti wanted to see this family legacy restored, especially since the remaining Finnish farmsteads were slowly being demolished as they deteriorated from lack of maintenance. Or they were being altered piece-by-piece.

In 1997, Lahti took on the challenge and began his restoration. He repaired siding, windows and foundations. He reshingled the roofs with wood shingles. He restored the house's interior by removing modern finishes like plywood paneling to expose the log walls. Plumbing and electrical services were updated. The work met state and federal preservation standards, and Lahti qualified for historic preservation tax credits.

Besides preserving a part of his family and ethnic heritage, he has preserved an important piece of Wisconsin's history as well.

This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. See this property's National Register record and property record on our website.