Fix House facts for kids
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Fix House
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Fix House, 1971
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| Location | Sterling State Park, Monroe, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1853 |
| Demolished | 1980 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000643 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1972 |
| Removed from NRHP | June 1, 1981 |
The Fix House was a historic home located in Sterling State Park in Monroe, Michigan. It was a special house because it was built in a unique old style. Even though it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its importance, the house was taken down in 1980. It was then removed from the historic list in 1981.
What Was the Fix House Like?
The Fix House was a one-and-a-half story building made of brick. It was built in a style called "French-Canadian vernacular cottages." This means it looked like the simple, traditional homes built by early French settlers.
The main part of the house was 24 by 30 feet. It had a strong foundation made of limestone. The front of the house had a door in the middle with two windows on each side. Later, another section was added to one side. A porch was also built at the back of the house.
This type of house was very rare in Monroe County. Only about fifteen buildings were ever built in this special style. French pioneers first settled this area in the 1780s.
History of the Fix House
The land where the Fix House stood had been lived on even before the War of 1812. In 1828, a man named Joseph Fix moved to Monroe with his family. They came from a region in Europe called Alsace-Lorraine. Joseph passed away the next year.
In 1832, Joseph's wife, Ann, bought this property. She farmed the land with her son, George. Ann and George built new structures on the farm. These first buildings were probably made of logs. The main Fix House, made of brick, was built in 1853. Side sections were added to the house around 1870.
George Fix lived in the house until he passed away in 1898. After him, his son Leanus took over the farm. Leanus Fix owned the property until he died in 1960. In 1966, the state of Michigan bought the property. It became an addition to Sterling State Park. However, the house was empty and kept getting worse. Because of this, the Fix House was taken down in 1980.
