The Texas Historical Commission (THC) awarded Thomas Mannes and his wife Eldbjorg Djoenne-Stuve a Historic Texas Lands Plaque, recognizing their commitment to preserving the Colwick-Peerson Farm in Bosque County, tied to significant figures in the history of Norwegian immigration to Texas.
The May 26 recognition was the culmination of more than a decade of research, excavation, and collaboration between the Mannes family and THC staff and partners.
Mannes, originally from Norway, purchased the property in 2012, drawn by his belief that the land held a direct connection to Cleng Peerson—widely regarded as the key figure of Norwegian immigration to Texas. Clifton and the surrounding area of Bosque County are well known for their Norwegian heritage, reflected in the region's distinctive architecture and cultural traditions. Mannes was convinced the property contained the final residence of Peerson, who died in 1865.
In 2014, Mannes invited THC historians and Bosque County regional archeologist Becky Shelton to assess the site's potential historical significance. What followed was an extensive archeological investigation conducted from 2014 to 2015 by Texas Archeological Stewardship Network stewards Bryan Jameson, Chris Meis, Art Tawater, and Carol Macaulay-Jameson, along with Mike Shannon of the North Texas Archeological Society. Drawing on archival records—including maps, photographs, and family journals held in the Clifton museum archives—the team confirmed that the three-room rock house with an earthen cellar where Peerson spent his final days was indeed located on the Mannes property. Macaulay-Jameson and her students from Baylor University later expanded excavations around an associated log cabin on the site.
In 2015, the site was nominated and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
"Thomas and Eldbjorg didn't simply allow research to take place on their property — they made it possible," said Brad Jones, state archeologist and THC Archeology Division director. "Their willingness to open this land to a decade of careful investigation has given us a richer understanding of Norwegian settlement in Texas.”
The Historic Texas Lands Plaque program recognizes private landowners who have taken concrete steps to preserve significant archeological sites on their property—whether through conservation easements, site transfers, State Antiquities Landmark designations, or support for substantial archeological research. Since 2001, the THC has awarded 40 plaques to landowners throughout the state. The program is supported by the Robert E. and Evelyn McKee Foundation of El Paso. Plaques are cast in aluminum, one foot in diameter, and are displayed on ranch gates and other prominent locations as a mark of distinction.
For more information about the Historic Texas Lands Plaque program, contact the THC Archeology Division at 512-463-6096 or archeology@thc.texas.gov.