[2] Bailly brought his family to the southern shore of Lake Michigan in 1822, first living in a log house built soon afterward.

Joseph Bailly acquired the Homestead and surrounding lands during the 1830s when the Calumet was opened to white settlement.

In September 1919, it was deeded to the School Sisters of Notre Dame of the Lake, Milwaukee, Wisconsin[4]: 4 Originally the Homestead included the house, and eight other structures to the west of the drive.

The house is 2½-stories built out of "hewn logs of cedar and oak, closely fitted, and pinned at the corners."

After Joseph's death, his daughter Ester Bailly Whistler's family lived in the house and appeared to have made no changes.

When they moved to Denver, Ester's sister Rose Bailly Howe's family assumed occupancy.

Rose's husband, Francis Howe, arranged to sell timber from the Homestead for the construction of a nearby railroad (for which he was an employee).

After Francis Howe's death, the husband of Hortense Bailly Wicker (Joel) took over management.

The Baillys held Mass in their home for years when circuit-riding priests (Roman Catholics) were traveling through.

"Tradition holds that mass was celebrated from a makeshift altar - a table, placed in front of the dining room fireplace.

"[4]: 10 The dining room had heaved eal [4]: 10  flooring and whitewood ceilings and wood paneling.

An ornate mantelpiece was carved by Miss Cora Green, the daughter of a Chesterton physician.

[4]: 11  At that time, the ceiling may have been paneled and the fireplace faced with blue and white Delft tiles.

Margaret Larsen recalled that Rose Howe had a sofa on the inside wall facing the fireplace.

[7]: 8 Originally, larger, the existing storehouse was formed from the 'good' logs of an older trading structure used by Joseph Bailly.

[7]: 8 Originally a two-story kitchen, this is where Joseph Bailly and his stepdaughter Theresa de la Vigne died.

Outside the cemetery platform to the north there are eight recorded tombstones, two of which are older than 1827: Peter Carlbon, 1814; and Thomas B. Speer, 1817.