Centennial Cranberry Farm was purchased by John Clarke from the United States Government in 1876 and has been in the same family for nearly 130 years. Mr. Clarke chose the name “Centennial” as the year 1876 was our nation’s one-hundredth birthday and he wished to commemorate it in that manner.

John Clarke chose this area to grow cranberries for a number of reasons. Being located on the shore of Lake Superior offers superb frost protection because of the termperature moderating influence of this large body of water. Also, the farm's sandy soil is very acidic in which cranberries thrive.

Fresh Cranberries have always been produced here since the farm's inception. During the late 1800's and the early 1900's there were 18 other cranberry growers in the nearby area with small acreages. These growers sold their cranberries to Frank House. Because this farm is located on the shore of Lake Superior, the cranberries were shipped out by boat to places like Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri.

John Clarke built a dovetail-notched home from large square-cut timbers which is still standing here on the farm. He later started a cranberry farm at Vermillion which is 7 miles west of here. He then sold the original farm and home to his half-brother, Frank House.

Frank married Sarah Jane “Jenny” Gough, the local school teacher, who was raised in Pickford, Michigan which is about 80 miles southeast of here. All three of these people, John, Frank and Jenny, were originally from Meaford, Ontario, Canada.

Frank then enlarged the house to accommodate his family of 8 children. George was the youngest of Frank and Jenny’s children and was Loren’s father. Loren and his wife, Sharon, are now the current owners of the farm.

A few years ago, under a brushy area, we discovered some of the original “native” vines that have been here for over 100 years. These vines still produce cranberries. In 1989 we replanted 8 acres to "Searles" variety cranberry vines. Then in 1993 we planted another 4 acres to "Stevens" vines. In 2004 we planted an acre of "Pilgrims" vines which produce a very large berry.