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Comments:
Lynne Fremont - 2004-03-15 08:37:30 Crazy. I wonder if that makes my family's house one of the oldest still standing. It was built by my many-greats Grandfather, James Irwin, in 1836. He immegrated in from Ireland, and had a blacksmithing shop there, between the then-tiny settlements of Ann Arbor and Jackson. We still have the original sheepskin documents (actual sheepskin) signed by Martin van Buren granting our family the original 80-acre parcels. That's on the other side of Washtenaw county, though, only about a mile from the Jackson county border.* * * * * * * * * * * * Leighton - 2004-03-15 09:32:28 Wonder if they served hard Cider there for the guests? Travelling then must have been an adventure...and just from Detroit. Similarly, it's one reason we like bringing out-of-state bands to the tiny Elbow Room. Make them feel like traveling musicians of medieval times. All we need are the last few rooms above the bar to be renovated and we can party like it's 1799. * * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-03-15 10:00:09 This bit made me feel sad and queesy. Why has Michigan been so bad at preserving its past? They moved this historically significant building only to demolish it 20 years later, in 1967 when people should have known better...? It is such a shame.
Another reaction I had was that Michigan is so young (in terms of European-American history, anyway) compared with the East Coast. I regularly walk by a houses that were built in the 1700s out here, and I can look out my kitchen window and see a hilltop where some English "traitors" hid out and were chased by the King's men in the early-mid 1600s. The major road near my house is a turnpike that developed in the 16 and 1700s. It's so weird to think that the very first building in Washtenaw was built in the 1800s.* * * * * * * * * * * * Hillary - 2004-03-15 11:12:17And I thought moving historic houses around was a west Michigan thing... Historic buildings are saved from demolition in Barry County by moving them to "Historic Charlton Park Village". 25 buildings have been moved there so far including a general store, barber shop and the 1886 township hall. Good question, Anna. I'm guessing that people in Michigan don't see the point in preserving things here because everything is relatively new. There was a story on NPR a few weeks ago about personal collections donated to the State of Michigan rotting away in Lansing warehouses. Sad indeed. * * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-03-15 14:45:51 Relatively new to us, but not relatively new to our grandchildren... :(* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-03-16 11:45:07 So many great comments I don't know where to begin. Hi Jane--that must indeed make your house one of the oldest for sure, and the sheepskin document is fascinating. Anna, interesting comparison...it's true, things are so young here by comparison. I have a friend in Holland who lives near a 14th-century fort... Hillary, the historic village idea is a great one...wish Washtenaw had done that.* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |