Grice House Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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James and Jane Grice House
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 865 N. Huron Ave., Harbor Beach, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000534 |
| Added to NRHP | November 12, 1982 |
The Grice House is a cool museum located at 865 North Huron Avenue in Harbor Beach, Michigan. It helps us learn about what life was like a long time ago.
Contents
History of the Grice House
The Grice House was built by a man named James G. Grice. He moved to the United States from England in the early 1860s. He came with five of his sons and one daughter. By the 1870s, James worked at the Rock Falls sawmill.
The house was very strong. It even survived the big 1881 Thumb Fire. This fire burned a lot of land in the area. In the 1960s, the last person from the Grice family passed away. The city of Harbor Beach then bought the house. They did this to help sort out the family's property.
Soon after, a group of local volunteers stepped up. They wanted to turn the house into a museum. They worked hard to make it a place where everyone could learn about the past.
What You Can See at the Museum
The Grice House museum is a special place. It has the main house, an old schoolhouse, and a pole barn. You can explore many different rooms and areas. Each one shows a different part of history.
Inside the Main House
The museum has almost 2000 items. These items are spread across the three buildings. When the museum first opened, people gave many things. Gladys Seither donated a pump organ. Henry Roots made a large handmade loom. Albert Frank gave a collection of old pioneer tools.
By 1981, the community helped a lot. They furnished the kitchen, living room, and a bedroom. They also set up a tool room.
The Marine Room
The next year, the Marine Room was created. This room has a special light from the Harbor Beach Lighthouse. It is called a Fresnel lens. This lens was used to guide ships safely. It was removed from the lighthouse in 1986. Now, you can see it right here at the Grice House Museum.
The Sewing Room
There is also a Sewing Room. It has many old clothes from Mrs. Eilber. You can also see a beautiful spinning wheel given by Freda Will. This room shows old style clothes, pattern books, and accessories. It helps us imagine how people dressed long ago.
The Industrial Room
The Industrial Room is the biggest room on the second floor. It shows the early history of factories and work in Harbor Beach. You can learn about the jobs people did and the tools they used.
Outside the House: Barn and Schoolhouse
The museum also has a collection of farm equipment. You can find this in a pole barn. The barn was built next to the house in 1984. It shows how farming was done in the past.
The Adams School was built in 1920. It was moved to the museum grounds in 1988. This old school helps us remember how children learned in the past. It shows the history of education in the area.
