Farmstead #4 – YMCA Day Camp

This farmstead is probably the most familiar to people who have visited the park or were associated with the YMCA. The farmhouse was the last surviving remnant of the nine farms that existed on the Bertram property until is was torn down in 2018. This house was the home residence for several of the YMCA caretakers who took care of the property from the early 1960’s until 2012 when the property was sold to the county and the city. For a couple of years, this farmstead property was the temporary sight of the YMCA Day Camp until the YMCA built their new facility.

It has been hard to locate names of past residents of the property due to the fact that it lies on the edge of two sections, #17 and #16. The first names to appear were in 1859 to William Parvin & John Parvin, possibly brothers or father & son since William’s name appears first on the Warranty Deed. Another name was Arnold & Helen Fernberg, 1901-1950.

As you may recall from an earlier tidbit, this farmstead has some national notoriety. Some time in the 1990’s, the well-known author Clive Cussler wrote a book entitled “Valhala Rising” about the Vikings in North America. It’s more of an adventure novel but it does touch on the history of the Vikings and a “possible” adventure to Minnesota. In the novel he mentions finding a rune stone on the shores of Bertram Lake in Monticello, MN. He mentions the old barn as being the working office of a historical researcher and tells of the land gently sloping to the lake.

The new chalet is part of this property, as well as the machine shed and garage built by the YMCA. This garage was built for the mini bike program created for troubled youth.