The Hutmacher farm is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is considered the midwest’s finest still-standing example of the earthen abodes built by Germans from Russia. Believe it or not, Alex Hutmacher lived here until 1979.
The Hutmacher farm has been undergoing restoration. You can get more information here. These photos contributed by Kim Dvorak.
More reading on the Hutmacher farm here and here.
The Hutmacher farmstead is a good example of what immigrants were willing to endure for their chance at the American dream. With no trees available for building material, and purchased lumber out of their price range, many settlers on the prairie spent their first years in dwellings like this, built from the only material available — the earth itself. Many had left behind nice homes (and most of their worldly possessions) in Europe, to move to dwellings like this, where there were daily encounters with vermin and insects, and where the roof needed constant maintenance to stave-off leaks, but the promise of new opportunity was worth the hardship.
Ghosts of North Dakota 
Man, those people were tough.
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this is wonderful, restoring some of the old places.
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This is where my grandma grew up as a kid!!!
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Mine too! your last name is Krantz?
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The Hutmacher farm complex is a treasure to North Dakota. I would recommend visiting there to anyone that is interested. Preservation North Dakota (www.prairieplaces.org) has done a fantastic job of spearheading the restoration project. If you are interested in keeping the progress going, consider becoming a member of PND.
I last visited Hutmacher in 2003 well before the restoration efforts started. It is an amazing place, it’s quite a distance from the nearest town.
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my last names hutmacher ^-^ and im German, that’s cool.
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My dad made sausage with his uncle in that sod house when he was a boy
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Who was your dad? I am related to the Gust Voss family who lived just down the road.
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I’d guess that the Hutmacher structure was pretty livable inside. That wasn’t always the case in sod houses. My grandfather homesteaded south of what would be Turtle Lake in 1904 (T.L. came in ’05). He and my grandmother lived in two different sod houses until 1917. Grandma told me, “after 13 years it was none too soon.” She gave birth to three sons in those sods.
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I visited there last month. Fayette, ND is not very far from this place.
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My great grandparents, William and Elizabeth Kenmir Payne lived in a sod house that he constructed near Park River, North Dakota where most of their children were born. It always seemed as though it would be a struggle to me and this house certainly shows that. What brave souls they were that helped to build this wonderful country of ours. What a legacy they have left us. Oh, to be half the person that they were!
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I wonder how I could find out if my grandfathers Standard Oil gas station in Landa, ND is in the national registry. I had heard something to that effect last time I was home in Landa. I pumped gas for his customers when I was a teenager in the early 70’s. My grandfather also had a very well known machine shop adjacent to the gas station called “Festvogs Welding and Machine”. The machine shop burned down 1 year after my grandfather sold out. My grandfather had worked there from 1915-1976. I still have the wooden wall phone, (now restored), and one of the original gas globes from the Standard station. My grandfather was a remarkable man whom made me who I am today. He did jobs that reached far into the surrounding states. I am forever grateful to my grandparents.
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My dad always said is ancestors came from Russia, but we’ve not been able to find this. His name was Hutter (hut maker). I’m assuming Hutmacher means the same…?
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This was my Aunt and Uncle’s farm. We would go out there to visit, always a fun time. We went out there to see it about 8 years ago, was worn down, but still like I remembered, except it seemed smaller. Guessing t was because I was bigger. Brought back lots of great memories.
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This is my Great Uncles house. His brother was my Great Grandfather
Very proud to say I come from these strong, Amazing, Courageous people!!
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I was a neighbor to the Frank Hutmacher sod house. We used to visit the family when I was young and I was at their house when they were building the front entry onto the house. I still remember that place very well. Alex the son of Frank just passed away from Covid-19 a couple weeks ago. Alex and his dad both worked on the front entry addition.
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