Henry Ford Square House facts for kids
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Henry Ford Square House
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 29835 Beechwood Ave., Garden City, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1888 |
| Built by | Henry Ford |
| Architect | Clara Ford |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001932 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1980 |
The Henry Ford Square House is a special home in Garden City, Michigan. People also call it the Henry Ford Honeymoon House. It's famous because Henry Ford, who started the Ford Motor Company, built it himself! This house is so important that it became a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Contents
Building Henry Ford's First Home
Henry Ford and Clara Jane Bryant got married on April 11, 1888. Soon after, they started building their first home together. The house was originally located near Ford Road and what is now the Southfield Freeway.
Clara's Design and Henry's Hard Work
Clara Ford drew the plans for their new house. She designed rooms like the kitchen, a sitting room, a parlor, and a bedroom. Henry Ford built the house himself. He used timber that came from the land where the house was built. He even finished the wood in a sawmill he ran. An expert carpenter helped with special details, like the fancy railings on the stairs.
Moving In and New Ideas
Henry and Clara moved into their new home around June 1889. Later, Henry added a workshop to the house. This was where he started experimenting with gasoline-powered engines. These experiments were very important for his future work with cars.
The House's Journey Through Time
The Fords lived in this house for only a short time, until September 1891. Then, they moved to Detroit. However, they kept the house until 1937, using it as a summer cottage.
A New Owner and a Big Move
Henry Ford later gave the cottage to one of his employees, Robert Smith. After Henry and Clara Ford passed away, the land around the house was bought by the Ford Land Development Corporation. They needed the space for a new freeway. So, in 1952, the house was carefully moved to its current spot.
Becoming a Historic Site
Because of its connection to Henry Ford, the house was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979. The next year, in 1980, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important building in American history.
What the House Looks Like
The Henry Ford Square House is a two-story building. It is shaped like a square, about 31 feet on each side. The roof is a special type called a mansard roof, which has slopes on all four sides. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding.
Inside the Historic Home
The front of the house has an entrance in the middle. There's a special window design above the second-floor bedroom window. Inside, the house has many rooms. These include a kitchen, dining room, living room, and a family room. There are also four bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. The house also has a full basement.
