Frederick A., Jr. and Caroline Hewett Kennedy Farm facts for kids

The Frederick A., Jr. and Caroline Hewett Kennedy Farm is a special old farm located near Hanover, Michigan. It's known for its beautiful old house and barn. This farm is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. This means it's a place worth protecting because of its history and unique buildings.

History of the Kennedy Farm

Frederick A. Kennedy, Jr. was born in Brighton, England in 1811. He moved to the United States with his family in 1817. They lived in different parts of New York State and Pennsylvania. In 1821, they settled near Lodi, New York.

Around 1830 or 1831, Frederick Jr. moved to Tecumseh, Michigan. There, he married Caroline Hewett. The Kennedys moved to Hanover Township, Michigan in 1837. They were among the first European settlers in the area.

Building the Farm

The Kennedys bought land and eventually owned 370 acres. When they first arrived, they built a small house. This first house was just east of where the main farm buildings stand today.

We don't know the exact year the current house was built. However, old tax records give us some clues. They suggest that part of the house was built between 1846 and 1847. A larger section was likely added between 1855 and 1856.

Frederick A. Kennedy, Jr. was an important person in his community. He served four terms as the supervisor for Hanover Township. A township supervisor is like a mayor for a small local area. In 1846, he was also elected to the state legislature. This means he helped make laws for the state of Michigan.

Later Owners

In 1871, the Kennedys moved to Jackson, Michigan. In 1883, they sold the Hanover farm to their son, Van Buren Kennedy, and his wife, Adelia M. Kennedy.

The farm changed hands a few more times over the years. In 1936, Hiram A. and Helen Tallmadge bought the property. Helen Tallmadge then sold it to Dr. and Mrs. John Hand in 1980.

What the Farm Looks Like

The Frederick A. and Caroline Hewett Kennedy, Jr., Farm covers eighty acres. It has open fields, pastures, and wooded areas. On the property, you can see a brick house and a large timber-frame barn.

The House

The house is built in the Greek Revival style. This style was popular in the 1800s and often looks like ancient Greek temples. It has a tall, two-story section and a shorter, one-story wing. There's also a single-story ell (a section shaped like the letter "L") at the back.

The house sits on a foundation made of fieldstone. The front of the house is made of hard-baked bricks. The back ell uses softer bricks, which might mean it was built at a different time. The windows have six small panes of glass on the top and six on the bottom. They are set in square openings with decorative brickwork above them.

The front of the wing has a porch that is set back into the house. The main entrance is here. Two round, fluted (grooved) columns support the porch. Similar half-columns are on either side of the entrance. Under the roof edges of the tall section, there are small windows with fancy cast-iron grilles.

The Barn

The barn was built in the 1800s and has a gable roof. This means the roof slopes down on two sides, forming a triangle at the ends. It is located behind the house.

Two sides of the barn's basement are made of rough fieldstone walls. The other two sides are covered with vertical wooden boards. The upper part of the barn is completely covered with vertical board-and-batten siding. This is a type of siding where wide boards are placed side-by-side, and then thin strips (battens) cover the gaps between them. One side of the basement has an entrance.