Farmstead #3 – Worthington/William Kiebel

This farmstead out of all the other eight farmsteads is probably the best known for many reasons. The farm buildings themselves were located atop the rise 1/8 mile above Bertram Lake. The site of the building was just west and east of the road leading to the current turnaround. It was just west of the new YMCA Day Camp, and consisted of a house, large barn, hen house, two machine sheds, and a grainery. The house was surrounded by lilacs and locust trees which are still there today. Access to the farm was a long driveway north to County Road 39.

As with Farmsteads #1 and #2, the land was originally granted to John D. Taylor in June, 1957. The current parcel was deeded to Daniel Worthington in 1877, then to his son in 1889. In 1901 William Kiebel began purchasing the land including the parcel at the north end of Long Lake (NW corner Section 16 and SW corner Section 9). This is where the new Long Lake overlook is located.

I mentioned earlier that this farmstead is probably the best known of the nine sites because of the historical importance. Below are a few reasons:

• This property provided the easiest access to Long Lake during the winter months. It was Long Lake that provided the purest water and thus the purest ice for the ice boxes of Monticello residents. Ice blocks were cut for many years there.
• The beach on Bertram Lake provided the only access for many years for fishing, swimming, camping and picnicking. Many parties and reunions occurred under the oaks at the beach. Prior to the 1851 land purchase, the beach area at Bertram was a stopover spot for Native Americans traveling through the area.
• Currently, as in the past, the land by the beach provides a crossroads for the bike and hiking trails, as well as other activities throughout the park.