The William & Lucy Burton Home
(a.k.a. the Lodge or the Alvina & Theodore Beck House)

Independent seasonal volunteer workers have assisted the National Park Service with stabilization activities at this structure on South Manitou Island for the past several years.

National Park Service architectural experts originally judged this house to be "of very early contruction (perhaps 1870's)". However, the property on which this home stands was originally purchased from the government by William Burton in October of 1853, and records of the Burton family indicate that it might have originally been built somewhat earlier.

While the Orange Risdon survey during the fall of 1847 indicates no development activity in this area at that time, a letter written in June of 1850 by Lucy Boyd Rice Burton, William Burton's mother, includes information about William's home having burned in April of 1850, and being rebuilt immediately thereafter. Hence, it would appear that William Burton established a farmstead here sometime between those dates. Letters written by Eunice (Burton) Marsden during the mid-1860's contain comments strongly suggesting that they were probably written from this home. Other evidence suggests that the agricultural operations carried on here by the elderly Burton's consisted mainly of orchards, with the work being done by a hired tenant family.

This home has been determined eligible for National Register by State Historical Preservation Office, although the nomination has yet to be completed and submitted to the keeper of the national register for listing. This collection includes the following images:

• dc001.jpg: Fallen cedar removed from trail to the site
• dc002.jpg: Approaching back of Burton house (a.k.a. "the Lodge") west wing
• dc003.jpg: Burton house west wing detail
• dc004.jpg: Burton house west wing detail (upper)
• dc005.jpg: Burton house "varmint entrance"
• dc006.jpg: Burton house interior condition
• dc007.jpg: Burton house interior; bathroom (a later addition)
• dc008.jpg: Burton house back porch
• dc009.jpg: Burton house - orignal window glide mechanism
• dc010.jpg: Burton house interior stabilization work
• dc011.jpg: Burton house interior - stairway to second floor
• dc012.jpg: Burton house interior - bedroom door (numbered during Lodge era)
• dc013.jpg: Burton house interior - bedroom
• dc014.jpg: Burton house interior - master bedroom