317 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps the oldest remaining home in Ann Arbor, this property at one point housed pioneer journalist George Corselius, who later became editor of the Western Emigrant, the first newspaper in Washtenaw County. Historians note that Corselius was a descendant of French barons and his wife, Clementia Cardell, a descendant of Norman kings. George was on his way to the California Gold Rush when he became ill on his journey there. As he was turning back, he passed away at sea. The house itself is relatively simple and not crafted with ornate, decorative, or otherwise strikingly unique architecture. However, the general Greek Revival form with side gables holds its own in Ann Arbor’s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4090 Geddes Road, Ann Arbor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The historical estate of Earhart Manor dates back to the 1930s. Named after one of its owners, J. Herbert Earhart, a wealthy businessman associated with the oil industry, the building reflects the wealth and status held by the Earhart family at the time of the property’s construction. In fact, the Manor is believed to be the first home with AC west of New York City. The home’s security system could also be triggered by the simple flip of a switch from the bedroom. Over the years, efforts have gone into ensuring that the Manor is well-preserved, all while maintaining its historical and architectural integrity. History buffs will find it listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Earhart Manor is part of the Concordia University Ann Arbor<\/a> campus after the university acquired the property in the 60s. The Manor houses administrative offices and is occasionally used for special events and functions associated with this school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2781 Packard Street, Ann Arbor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ticknor-Campbell House, sometimes referred to as the Campbell-Dean House, was owned by Benjamin Ticknor and later, the Campbell and Dean families. Ticknor was a prominent figure in the local community, working as a U.S. naval surgeon. The style of the home incorporates elements of Greek Revival and Italianate, which were both popular during the era. Specific features of the home include its gabled roof, decorative trim, and symmetrical facades. Preservation of the home ensures that it maintains its original character while it continues to serve as a historical piece of Ann Arbor’s past. The house has been designated as a Michigan State Historical Site since 1973 and is included as part of the Cobblestone Farm and Museum<\/a>. In addition to the farmhouse, the property features a large barn, a tool shed, a smokehouse, and a log cabin from 1835 that was moved from southeastern Washtenaw County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2940 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Orrin White worked as a merchant in New York, where he resided with his wife, Ann Thayer. Upon making the journey to Michigan in the early 1800s, White claimed land along the Huron River and brought his family to permanently settle in the Great Lakes State, making them the first settlers of the Ann Arbor Township outside of the village of Ann Arbor, which had only been founded five months prior. Orrin remained active in the community, serving as county commissioner, sheriff, and associate circuit court judge before serving in the state legislature in 1842. Orrin and his wife built their home in an L shape from cobblestones, one section at a time using patterns that were common in New York, such as herringbone. The house was restored in the 1970s and 80s by Robert and Nan Hodges. The home is still used as a private residence, with the structure remaining in excellent condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 126 North Division Street, Ann Arbor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hailing as one of Ann Arbor’s most famous houses, the stunning Judge Robert S. Wilson’s home stands ornately on North Division Street in Ann Arbor and is immediately recognizable by its Greek Revival structure and the striking columns that rise two stories, likely inspired by the Temple of the Wingless Victory in Athens, Greece. It’s likely that the home was constructed in three stages, with the middle section kicking off the project as early as perhaps 1835. The judge moved to Chicago in 1850, at which point the property was sold to John H. Welles \u2014 who likely constructed the rear addition of the house and made extensive alterations. The historical home, also known as the Wilson-Wahr House, remains a private home and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8341 Island Lake Road, Dexter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Originally built in the early 1840s, Gordon Hall was the home of Judge Samuel W. Dexter, a prominent figure in Michigan’s early history. The name Gordon Hall was chosen to honor the judge’s mother, Catherine Gordon Dexter. Upon the death of Judge Dexter and his wife, the home was sold and rented for numerous years. The U.S. Department of Interior reports Gordon Hall as being one of the oldest, most historic buildings in the state of Michigan and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places \u2014 cementing its importance to the area’s history and ensuring it a spot as an architectural landmark. The hall is now owned and operated by the Dexter Area Historical Society<\/a> and serves as a museum and event space for tours, educational programs, and even community events. The funds raised by these events have helped to rehabilitate the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 312 South Division Street, Ann Arbor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Kempf house was constructed in the Greek Revival style in 1853 by Henry DeWitt Bennett. The home was later inhabited by the Kempf family as borders before they later purchased the home in 1894. Reuben Kempf was a local banker and musician in Ann Arbor and lived with his wife, Pauline, in this Greek Revival architectural style home. Today, the Kempf House remains an important cultural and historical site in the Ann Arbor area, providing locals and visitors alike with the opportunity to learn more about the history of the city and the architectural style of homes back in the mid-1800s. The house operates as a museum run by the Kempf House Museum<\/a> and is open to the public for tours, programs, and various special events throughout the year. This is a unique opportunity to get a glimpse back into 19th-century life! The rooms have been restored and decorated with authentic furnishings, several of which were owned by the Kempf family themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 227 North Grove Street, Ypsilanti<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The elaborate Gilbert Mansion in Ypsilanti boasts two towers, a slate roof, marvelous porches, and an array of rich architectural details that date back to the mid-1800s. The home was originally constructed for John Gilbert, who worked on the Michigan Center Railroad as a conductor. The mansion was owned by the Gilbert family until the Great Depression. At this point, the city of Ypsilanti gained possession of the home after Mr. Gilbert’s passing and eventually the mansion became a teen canteen and the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs before falling into disrepair and closing to the public. The mansion was rehabilitated in the 80s and is now owned and meticulously cared for by Steve and Chris White of Osprey Construction. Now divided into seven apartments, the mansion’s history lives on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 300 East Michigan Avenue, Saline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Davenport-Curtiss House was built by William H. Davenport, who immigrated to Saline with his parents in 1827. Davenport later founded a bank in Saline and played an instrumental part in getting a railroad to Saline. The home is immediately recognizable, standing impressively on a full block of land to the right of Michigan Avenue in Saline’s downtown area. Davenport lived in the home until his death in 1909 and the home remained in the family until 1930, at which point family friend Carl Curtiss inherited the property. The Davenport-Curtiss House is two and a half stories and sits on a cut-stone foundation. The exterior features ornate bracketry and the interior features large rooms, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows with hardwood trim. Notably, the home still contains antiques purchased at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 208 South Street, Chelsea<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This historical home was once home to Chelsea’s most famous citizen! Frank Glazier began a company that manufactured cooking and heating stoves, which soon took off worldwide. He was a civic leader in Chelsea, bringing electricity and water to the town and providing numerous jobs. He also played a hand in erecting landmarks that can still be seen in Chelsea, such as the Clock Tower, the Methodist church, and a bank that is now the 14A District Court. Frazier was later elected as state treasurer in 1906 before spending two years in the Jackson Prison for putting state money into his own bank. Glazier’s Queen Anne-style house was divided into four apartments for decades before being meticulously restored into a single-family home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1402 Hill Street, Ann Arbor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Floyd R. Mechem moved to Ann Arbor at a young age after being born in New York. He passed the bar in 1979, served as a city attorney, and established his own firm known as Mechem & Beaumont. In 1898, construction began on his home and he continued to live on Hill Street until 1903 when he was appointed as a professor of law at the University of Chicago. This two-and-a-half-story wooden framed building featured Colonial Revival trim and stands on a fieldstone foundation. The wraparound porch has beautiful Tuscan columns. From 1917 to 1923, the house became home to Professor Joseph A. Bursley and in the mid-1930s was used as a Women’s League residence. The home was also used as general housing for students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.reinhartrealtors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/317EAnn-1024x768.jpg\")
Earhart Manor<\/strong><\/a> | 1935<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ticknor-Campbell House<\/strong><\/a> | 1828\/1844<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.reinhartrealtors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Photo376615o-1024x768.jpg\")
Orrin White House<\/strong><\/a> | 1836<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.reinhartrealtors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2940Fuller-1024x768.jpg\")
Judge Robert S. Wilson House<\/strong><\/a> | 1835\/1844\/1863<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.reinhartrealtors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/126NDivisionSt-813x1024.jpg\")
Gordon Hall<\/strong><\/a> | 1841<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kempf House<\/strong><\/a> | 1853<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.reinhartrealtors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/cropped-banner4.jpg\")
Gilbert Mansion<\/strong><\/a> | 1861<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Davenport-Curtiss House<\/strong><\/a> | 1876<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frank P. Glazier House<\/strong><\/a> | 1895<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.reinhartrealtors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/208-South.jpeg\")
Floyd R. Mechem House<\/strong><\/a> | 1898<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Palmer House<\/strong><\/a> | 1950<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n