PORT ANDREW — Ben and Bruce Moffat could be twins.
Ben Moffat looks over the spinning wheel in the the house built in 1863 by his great-great-grandfather, John Coumbe, the first European settler in Richland County in 1838. The house and the 200-acre farmstead are now home to the Crosscurrents Heritage Center.
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John Coumbe built the farmhouse on his property in 1863.
The property overlooks the Wisconsin River and holds several oak trees, one estimated to be at least 300 years old.
John Coumbe spent about the first 20 years of his life in England before emigrating to the the U.S. in 1828. He would eventually become the first European settler in Richland County.
The barn built in 1861 is now being used for programming and events at the Crosscurrents Heritage Center in Port Andrew.
Photos: Crosscurrents Heritage Center in Port Andrew
John Coumbe built the farmhouse on his property in 1863.
Bruce Moffat shows off the parlor of the home built in 1863 by his great-great grandfather. Family lore says three box cars of cattle were shipped to Milwaukee and the proceeds used to buy much of the furniture in the room.
Brothers, from left, Bruce and Ben Moffat in the entryway of the house built in Port Andrew in 1863 by their great-great grandfather, John Coumbe.
Bruce Moffat, left, and Mark Cupp outside the 1863 house built by Moffat’s great-great grandfather, John Coumbe, the first white settler in Richland County, and now houses the Crosscurrents Heritage Center, founded by Bruce and his brother, Ben, in Port Andrew, Wis. Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
A photo of Camilla Coumbe Kirkpatrick, Ben and Bruce Moffat’s grandmother, is displayed on the piano at the house built in 1863 by Moffat’s great-great grandfather, John Coumbe, the first white settler in Richland County, and is now the Crosscurrents Heritage Center in Port Andrew, Wis. Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
John Coumbe spent about the first 20 years of his life in England before emigrating to the the U.S. in 1828. He would eventually become the first European settler in Richland County.
Ben Moffat shows a plow that is stored in the former smoke house at the Crosscurrents Heritage Center in Port Andrew, Wis. Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
The barn built in 1861 is now being used for programming and events at the Crosscurrents Heritage Center in Port Andrew.
Ben Moffat shows the restored smoke house at the Crosscurrents Heritage Center in Port Andrew, Wis. Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Ben Moffat looks over the spinning wheel in the the house built in 1863 by his great-great-grandfather, John Coumbe, the first European settler in Richland County in 1838. The house and the 200-acre farmstead are now home to the Crosscurrents Heritage Center.
Brothers Bruce, left, and Ben Moffat, check out the historic barn constructed in 1861 by their great-great grandfather John Coumbe. The barn is being restored and is being used for programming at the Crosscurrents Heritage Center northwest of Muscoda.
The property overlooks the Wisconsin River and holds several oak trees, one estimated to be at least 300 years old.
Bruce Moffat rings the bell outside the 1863 farm house that is now the Crosscurrents Heritage Center in Port Andrew, Wis. Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Ben Moffat, with Mark Cupp, at left, shows how an old toddler chair was also used to help children learn to walk. The wooden, handmade high chair is among many of the original furnishings in the historic house.
Bruce Moffat shows the grave marker of his great-great grandparents John and Sarah Coumbe. The cemetery is just west of the Coumbe farmstead that was established in 1838 in the Richland County community of Port Andrew.
Brothers Bruce, left, and Ben Moffat grew up in California but would spend summers at their grandparent's farm in Richland County. The duo have created the Crosscurrents Heritage Center at the farm to showcase the history of the Driftless Area.
Local carpenter Roger Bailey continues work on the 1861 barn at the Crosscurrents Heritage Center in Port Andrew. The barn was built with hand hewn beams, the largest weighing about 4,000 pounds.
Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com.
