Ove Peter Larsen (1845-1918) and his wife Mary (1854-?) homestead 160 acres in Bellevue at 148th Avenue Northeast. Their homestead included Larsen Lake (formerly known as Blueberry Lake), which is named for them.

At the time, the Larsen homestead was extremely isolated. Mary would sometimes go months without seeing a single neighbor. Their homestead was located southeast of the Goff homestead. Despite the distance, neighbors were still close enough to help out in a pinch.

In the early years on the Bellevue farm, Ove fell ill one winter, before his barn was finished. Neighbors chipped in and got the roof up. Ove repaid them in surplus beef.

Ove purchased the farm’s first potato seeds in Kirkland, which was 10 miles away, and transported them back in a push wheelbarrow. When Ove died, half of the Larsen land went to J.J. Bryce (Brys), and the other half went to the Aries Brothers.

 

Heritage Corner is a feature in the Bellevue Reporter. To learn more about Bellevue and Eastside history contact the Eastside Heritage Center at 425-450-1049 or visit EastsideHeritageCenter.org.