Indian Mission facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Indian Mission
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 590 E. Bay St. Sebewaing, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1849 |
| Architect | John J. Auch |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000620 |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 1972 |
The Indian Mission, also known today as the Luckhard Museum, is a very old building in Sebewaing, Michigan. It was once a Christian mission for Ojibwe people. This special building was constructed in 1849. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it is officially recognized as a historic place worth protecting.
Contents
The Story of the Indian Mission
The Indian Mission has a long and interesting history. It began with a man named John J. Auch. He was born in Germany in 1817. When he was 19, he moved to the United States with his family.
Who Was John J. Auch?
John J. Auch studied to become a religious leader. In 1845, he came to the area that is now Sebewaing, Michigan. His goal was to work as a missionary with the local Ojibwe tribe.
Building the Mission House
When John J. Auch first arrived, he built a simple log house. This house was just north of Sebewaing. Soon, he realized it was not big enough for his work. So, in 1846, he bought wood from Bay City. He brought the wood by boat to Sebewaing. Then, he started building a new, larger mission house. This new house was finished and officially opened in 1849. John J. Auch lived and worked in this building for five years.
What Happened to the Mission Later?
After John J. Auch left, the building was sometimes used and sometimes empty for many years. In 1954, a person named C.F. Luckhard bought the old mission. He worked hard to fix it up and make it look new again. Luckhard also moved the building to where it stands today. He used it to show his collection of old items from the early settlers. He even built a copy of John J. Auch's first log house near the mission.
What Does the Luckhard Museum Look Like?
The Indian Mission, now the Luckhard Museum, is a unique building. It is a rectangular building with one and a half stories. It has a pointed roof and sits on a low stone base.
Key Features of the Building
The building has special decorative edges on its roof called box cornices. It also has two brick chimneys built into its walls. The windows are double-hung, meaning they have two sashes that slide up and down. Each window has six small panes of glass on the top and six on the bottom.
The Replica Log House
Next to the mission building, there is a concrete structure. This structure is shaped like a log building. It is a copy of the very first chapel built in Sebewaing in 1845. This replica helps visitors imagine what the first buildings in the area looked like.
