Beaubien House facts for kids
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Charles Trombly House
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| Location | 553 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1851 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001178 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 13, 1979 |
The Charles Trombly House is a very old and important building in Detroit, Michigan. You can find it at 553 East Jefferson Avenue. Most people know it as the Beaubien House.
Today, this historic house is the main office for the Michigan Architectural Foundation. It also houses the American Institute of Architects of Michigan. The Beaubien House is one of the oldest homes still standing in Detroit. Because of its history, it was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1975. Later, in 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important places across the country.
History of the Beaubien House
The Beaubien House stands on land that was once part of a "ribbon farm." These were long, narrow farms that stretched from the river far inland. This particular farm belonged to Antoine Beaubien. His farm had a wide front along the river, but it went almost three miles back! Antoine Beaubien was a Colonel in the Detroit Militia. He officially received the land for his farm in 1810.
In June 1850, Antoine Beaubien sold a piece of his land to Charles J. Trombly. Charles was Antoine's cousin. He had just finished college at Georgetown College. Most historians believe that Charles Trombly built the house in 1851. He built it for himself and his new wife.
Over the next 20 years, many different families lived in or rented the house. Some of these families had very old and well-known names in Detroit. These included the McClelland, Cicotte, Whipple, Chapoton, Campau, and Beecher families.
In 1872, John F. Antisdel bought the house. His family owned or rented the home for a long time, until 1943. There was a short five-year period when William H. Machen lived there, but the Antisdel family usually had it.
After World War II, it's harder to find clear records of who owned the house. In 1956, a photographer named Fred A. Plofchan rented the house. He bought it in 1965. During his time, plumbing was added to the upper floors. These floors were rented out as small apartments. The house was used for both offices and homes.
Later, the Michigan Architectural Foundation rented the building. They completely fixed it up in 1987. This renovation helped save the historic house.
What the House Looks Like
The Beaubien House is made of brick. It sits on a strong foundation of fieldstone, which is a type of natural rock. The walls inside are made of plaster over wooden studs.
The house has a full basement. Above ground, it has three floors. The first floor has a front parlor, which is like a fancy living room. This room has a fireplace with a marble mantel. There are also two smaller rooms on this floor. One of these was probably a dining room. Both the second and third floors each had two rooms.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Beaubien para niños
