Coe House (Grass Lake, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Henry and Aurora (Walker) Vinkle House
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location | 371 W. Michigan Ave., Grass Lake, Michigan |
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| Built | 1871 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 100001391 |
| Added to NRHP | July 31, 2017 |
The Coe House, also known as the Henry and Aurora (Walker) Vinkle House, is a museum and a former family home. It is located at 371 West Michigan Avenue in Grass Lake, Michigan. This historic house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
Contents
History of the Coe House
Early Owners and the Walker Family
The land where the Coe House stands today was first opened to European settlers in the 1830s. Over a few years, the plot of land was bought and sold many times. In 1837, Daniel Walker bought the land. He was one of the first European settlers in the area. Daniel Walker also helped start the village of Grass Lake.
Daniel Walker owned the land until he passed away in 1839. After his death, his wife, Maria, became the owner. When Maria died in 1846, a part of the land was given to her son, William H. Walker. William was a local brick maker. He also started a business that sold medicines.
The Vinkle Family Builds a Home
In 1869, William H. Walker's daughter, Aurora, married Henry Vinkle Jr. Henry was a cabinet maker and also worked as an undertaker. In 1871, Aurora's parents gave her and Henry a small piece of land. This land was right next to their own house.
The Vinkles likely built their house on this land between 1871 and 1875. They lived there and raised their two children. Henry Vinkle's businesses did very well. He also invested in other things and served in public office for some time.
New Owners and the Museum Era
In the late 1890s, the Vinkle family moved to the Dakota Territory for health reasons. They eventually settled in Dickey County, North Dakota. In 1901, the Vinkles sold their house. The Detroit, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Jackson Railway bought it. They used the house as a place for their workers to live.
In 1909, the railway sold the house to an older couple, Herman H. and Fredericka Mellencamp. Herman passed away in 1919, and Fredericka in 1920. Their son, Henry, inherited the house. In 1925, Henry Mellencamp rented the house to Cathrene Walz, a young widow. She bought the house the next year. Cathrene Walz lived in the house for many years. She rented out rooms and raised her family there. Later, she sold the house to Archie and Myrta Coe.
The Coes lived in the house until Archie passed away in 1969. Myrta moved to live with her children in 1974. Myrta Coe made arrangements for the Grass Lake Area Historical Society to buy the house. Their plan was to turn it into a museum. The Coe House Museum opened to the public in 1977.
Design and Architecture
The Coe House is a two-story brick house. It is built in the Italianate style, which was popular for homes during that time. The walls of the house are made of solid brick. The outside walls are three bricks thick, making them very strong.
