Bergland Administrative Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bergland Administrative Site
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The Ranger's Dwelling, one of the main buildings at the site.
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | M-28, Bergland, Michigan |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1936 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000103 |
| Added to NRHP | July 9, 2005 |
The Bergland Administrative Site, also known as the Bergland Ranger Station, is a group of historic government buildings in Bergland, Michigan. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which is the official list of places in the United States that are worth saving because of their history. Today, the site is home to the Bergland Cultural & Heritage Center and The Bergland/Matchwood Historical Society Museum.
Contents
From Forest to Museum
The story of this site begins around the year 1900. A man named Gunlek A. Bergland bought land in the area to start a logging business. He built a sawmill near Lake Gogebic and the small town that grew around it was named Bergland in his honor.
By the 1920s, many of the trees had been cut down. The United States Forest Service bought large areas of this land to protect and regrow the forest. In 1931, this land officially became part of the Ottawa National Forest.
Building the Ranger Station
To manage the new forest, the government needed local offices. The Bergland Ranger Station was one of seven new district offices created in 1935. That same year, the first ranger, Joseph "Popcorn" Blake, arrived in town.
In 1936, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began building the ranger station. The CCC was a program that gave jobs to young men during the Great Depression, and they often worked on projects in parks and forests. They finished building the station in 1937.
A New Purpose for the Site
The ranger station was used for many years. But as the Forest Service grew and needed more space, the Bergland site became too small. The station was officially closed in 1998.
Instead of letting the buildings sit empty, the Ottawa National Forest worked with local groups to give them a new life. In 2009, The Bergland/Matchwood Historical Society Museum moved into the old ranger's house and garage. The Bergland Cultural & Heritage Center uses the other buildings, sharing the history of the area with visitors.
What the Site Looks Like
The Bergland Administrative Site has six main buildings that were built in the 1930s. They were all designed in a style called Colonial Revival, which was popular for government buildings at the time. The buildings are arranged along a curved driveway.
- Ranger Station Office: This one-and-a-half-story building was the main office. It has a covered porch at the entrance with decorative pillars. Inside, there were offices on the first and second floors.
- Ranger's Dwelling: This was the two-story house where the head ranger and his family lived. It has a large stone chimney and a cozy fireplace inside with built-in bookcases.
- Garage: A simple, two-car garage for the station's vehicles.
- Warehouse: A long building with four large garage bays. It was used for storing equipment and supplies.
- Oil Shed: A small, single-room shed used for safely storing oil and other flammable materials.
- Woodshed: Another small shed used for storing firewood to heat the buildings.
