The Garland Homestead in Wisconsin ~ A Hamlin Garland Memorial – Part 2
ByHermon MacNeil’s life and works developed around a community of artists and sculptors. Many of them met and worked together during the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893.
Hamlin Garland was one of those people —
- author, explorer, friend of Native Americans,
- advisor and friend of President Teddy Roosevelt,
- winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1922,
- a proud son of Wisconsin, as well as, South Dakota and Illinois, and New York, too!
Therefore, his HOME has become a National Historic Landmark !
In 1973 the Interior Department designated the Hamlin Garland Homestead a National Historic Landmark. The house was purchased by the West Salem Historical Society and restoration was started in 1975.
In 1973 the Interior Department designated the Homestead of Hamlin Garland as a National Historic Landmark.
“At dedication ceremonies that fall a large stone and plaque noting its historic values were placed in front of the house. The house was purchased by the West Salem Historical Society late in 1973, but restoration did not actually begin until 1975.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlin_Garland_House
Wisconsin is proud of their historic connection to this friend of Hermon A. MacNeil. This State has also has designated a Heritage Highway, namely the …
“Hamlin Garland Highway.”
Hamlin Garland Highway in Brown County South Dakota.
[Credit: Hamlin Garland Society]
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In Wisconsin, the
West Salem Historical Society
tells their story as follows: 
Hamlin Garland
West Salem (WI) Historical Society
Named after Hannibal Hamlin, the vice president (from 1861-1865) under Abraham Lincoln, Hamlin Garland was born on a farm near West Salem, WI on September 14, 1860. His early years were spent in the mid-west (Wisconsin, Iowa and Dakota), where he managed to acquire an education and graduating with honors from a western seminary.
His early success in writing enabled him to purchase this house and 4 acres in West Salem as a homestead for his parents.
The home was in poor condition and Garland spent much of October 1893 repairing and renovating; he eventually installed indoor plumbing, making it the first home in the area with that innovation.[7] He originally named it Mapleshade because of the three large maples on the property.[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlin_Garland_House After Garland prepared the house and his parents moved back from the Dakota Territory in time to celebrate Thanksgiving.
In 1893,[7] Hamlin moved to Chicago, where he lived at 6427 South Greenwood Avenue in the Woodlawn neighborhood. He is considered “a significant figure in the Chicago Literary Movement” and “one of Chicago’s most important authors”.[8] Moccasin Ranch Park, located near [this] address, is named in his honor.[8] SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlin_Garland#cite_note-MoccasinRanchPark-8
In Illinois in November 1899, Garland married Zulime Taft, the sister of sculptor Lorado Taft, and began working as a teacher and a lecturer.[9] In his literary career, Hamlin was an author of 52 novels, several poems and short stories. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Daughter of the Middle Border (sequel to Son of the Middle Border) in 1922.
This Garland Homestead commemorates the three-generation Family home of Hamlin Garland.
A prolific writer, Garland continued to publish novels, short fiction, and essays. In 1917, he published his autobiography, A Son of the Middle Border. The book’s success prompted a sequel, A Daughter of the Middle Border, for which Garland won the 1922 Pulitzer Prize for Biography. After two more volumes, Garland began a second series of memoirs based on his diary. Garland naturally became quite well known during his lifetime and had many friends in literary circles.[10] He was made a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1918.[4]
After moving to Hollywood, California, in 1929, he devoted his remaining years to investigating psychic phenomena, an enthusiasm he first undertook in 1891. In his final book, The Mystery of the Buried Crosses (1939), he tried to defend such phenomena and prove the legitimacy of psychic mediums. [ SOURCE: Wikipedia ]
Hamlin Died in 1940, at the age of 79 in Hollywood, California. He was cremated, and his ashes were returned to West Salem for burial in Neshonoc Cemetery two miles north of West Salem where his wife, children and parents are buried.
VISIT the Hamlin Garland HOMESTEAD:
The Garland Homestead in 1971. [Source: Hamlin_Garlin_House_West_Salem_La_Crosse_County_Wisconsin.jpg ]
Address: 357 West Garland Street, West Salem Wi 54669. Free Will Donations Accepted
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For MORE on Hamlin Garland check these links:
