Elmwood (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) facts for kids
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Elmwood
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 435 E. Water St., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1827 |
| Architect | Obed Wait, Et al. |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000982 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 25, 1974 |
Elmwood, also known as the Henry Rowe Schoolcraft House, is a historic home in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It stands at 435 East Water Street. This special house was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1956. Later, in 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Who Was Henry Rowe Schoolcraft?
Henry Rowe Schoolcraft (1793-1864) was a famous American explorer and writer. He was also an expert on Native American cultures. Schoolcraft was born in Albany County, New York.
Early Life and Explorations
In 1817, Henry went on a trip to study minerals in what is now Missouri and Arkansas. A few years later, in 1820, he worked as a mapmaker. This was for an expedition exploring the upper Mississippi River and Lake Superior areas.
After writing a book about his travels in 1821, Schoolcraft got an important job. He was appointed as a US Indian agent in Sault Ste. Marie in 1822. An Indian agent was a government official. Their job was to work with Native American tribes.
Family Life in Sault Ste. Marie
When Schoolcraft arrived, he was invited to stay at the home of John Johnston. In 1823, Henry Schoolcraft married Johnston's daughter, Jane Johnston Schoolcraft. Jane's mother, Ozhaguscodaywayquay, was the daughter of an Ojibwe war chief named Waubojeeg.
After they married, Henry and Jane continued to live in the Johnston house. They had four children together. Their children were William (born 1824), Janee (born 1826), and John (born 1829). Sadly, William died young, and they also had a daughter who was stillborn.
Later Career and Legacy
Henry Schoolcraft continued his work as an Indian Agent. He worked in Sault Ste. Marie and later on Mackinac Island. In 1836, he became the superintendent of Indian affairs. This meant he was in charge of many agents.
In 1841, Schoolcraft left his job and moved to New York City. He kept writing about Native American culture. Henry Schoolcraft passed away in 1864 in Washington, D.C..
History of the Schoolcraft House
After becoming the Indian Agent, Schoolcraft asked for a new building. He wanted a proper place for the agency to work. He chose the spot, and plans were drawn by Obed Wait. Wait had also designed Michigan's first capitol building.
Building Elmwood
Construction of the house began in 1826 and finished in 1827. The building was named "Elmwood" because of the many elm trees around it. It served as the main office for Indian affairs in the upper Great Lakes region. It was also the Schoolcraft family's home.
The agency headquarters moved to Mackinac Island in 1833. However, Elmwood was still used by the agency through the 1830s and 1840s.
Changes Over Time
In 1853, the government rented Elmwood to Charles T. Harvey. He lived in the house while overseeing the building of the first Soo Locks. These locks help ships pass between Lake Superior and Lake Huron.
A local businessman, Peter Barbeau, bought Elmwood in 1874. The government decided to sell the property. Around the 1880s, the house was changed quite a bit. It got new features in the Queen Anne style. These changes made it look different from its original design.
Around 1900, the house was sold to the Michigan Lake Superior Power Company. It was used as an office building for a while. Then, it sat empty for many years. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was used to show historical items from the Chippewa County Historical Society.
Moving and Restoring Elmwood
In 1979, Elmwood was moved from its first spot to its current location. It now sits at 435 East Water Street, right next to the John Johnston House.
When it was moved, the house was also restored. Workers removed the additions from the 1880s. The goal was to make it look like its original Federal style design. Today, the west wing of the house is open to visitors. This part originally held the Indian Affairs Agency offices.
What Does Elmwood Look Like?
The original Elmwood building was built in the Federal style. This style often features simple, balanced designs. The house had a two-story main section in the middle. On each side, there were single-story wings. These wings were connected to the main part by covered walkways.
The entire building was almost 100 feet long. A porch, called a veranda, ran along the whole front. Inside, the house had 15 rooms.
Elmwood was first built right on the banks of the St. Marys River. It was surrounded by a beautiful grove of trees. These included maples, mountain ash, and the elm trees that gave the house its name.
