Wilder, Laura Ingalls, House
Posted by: 
MNSearchers
N 37° 05.986 W 092° 33.914
15S E 538633 N 4106027
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American author who wrote the Little House series of books based on her childhood in a pioneer family. Laura's daughter, Rose, inspired Laura to write her books.
Waymark Code: WMF92Q
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 09/12/2012
Views: 10
In 1894, Almanzo and Laura Wilder moved to Mansfield, Missouri, using their savings to make a down payment on a piece of undeveloped property just outside of town. They named the place Rocky Ridge Farm. The ramshackle log cabin was eventually replaced with an impressive 10-room farmhouse and outbuildings. The couple's climb to financial security was a slow process. Initially, the only income the farm produced was from wagonloads of firewood Almanzo sold for 50 cents in town, the result of the backbreaking work of clearing the trees and stones from land that slowly evolved into fertile fields and pastures. The apple trees did not begin to bear fruit for seven years. Barely able to eke out more than a subsistence living on the new farm, the Wilders decided to move into nearby Mansfield in the late 1890s and rent a small house. Almanzo found work as an oil salesman and general delivery man, while Laura took in boarders and served meals to local railroad workers. Wilder's parents visited around this time, and presented to the couple, as a gift, the deed to the house they had been renting in Mansfield. This was the economic jump start they needed; they added acreage to the original purchase, eventually owning nearly 200 acres. Around 1910, they sold their house in town and using the proceeds from the sale, were able to move back to the farm permanently, and to complete Rocky Ridge Farmhouse. What began as about 40 acres of thickly wooded, stone-covered hillside with a windowless log cabin, over the next 20 years evolved into a 200-acre, relatively prosperous poultry, dairy, and fruit farm.
Rocky Ridge Farm is only 45 miles east of Springfield MO on highway 60 a mile east of Mansfield, MO. Rocky Ridge Farm is now a museum that also gives tours of the house and of the Rock House which was given to Almanzo and Laura by their daughter Rose Wilder Lane. The Wilder Home is now run by the Wilder Home Association established in 1957. It is a not for profit organization. A bookstore is also on the property of Rocky Ridge Farm.
Street address:
1 mi. E of Mansfield on U.S. Business 60
Mansfield , MO USA
65704
County / Borough / Parish: Wright
Year listed: 1970
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Person
Periods of significance: 1925-1949, 1900-1924, 1875-1899
Historic function: Domestic
Current function: Recreation And Culture
Privately owned?: yes
Season start / Season finish: From: 03/01/2012 To: 11/15/2012
Hours of operation: From: 9:00 AM To: 5:00 AM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.