Jacob and Rebecca Fuerst Farmstead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jacob and Rebecca Fuerst Farmstead
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 24000 Taft Rd., Novi, Michigan |
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| Area | 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) |
| Architectural style | Bungalow, American Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000928 |
| Added to NRHP | August 21, 1997 |
The Jacob and Rebecca Fuerst Farmstead was a historic farm located in Novi, Michigan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 because of its importance. Sadly, the farm was taken down in 2008. Today, the land has been turned into a beautiful public space called Fuerst Park.
Contents
A Look Back: The Fuerst Farm's Story
The land where the Fuerst Farm once stood was first settled in 1827. A man named Gamaliel Simmons bought this piece of land. Over the next few years, the farm had several different owners. Records suggest that a Greek Revival style house was built there before 1830.
In 1836, George Dennis bought the farm. He made many improvements and built more buildings on the property. The Dennis family owned the farm until 1898. Then, James and Minnie Dunham purchased it. They might have rented the farm even earlier, possibly starting in 1889.
The Fuerst Family's Time
In 1918, the Jacob and Rebecca Fuerst family bought the farm. They already owned another farm in Greenfield Township. However, the city of Detroit was growing, and their first farm was being divided into smaller lots for houses.
The Novi farm already had some fruit trees. The Fuersts worked hard to grow even more orchards. They turned the farm into a successful business. They sold fresh fruit, eggs, and butter to people.
In 1931, the Fuersts tore down the old Greek Revival house. They built a new, modern bungalow in its place. Rebecca and Jacob Fuerst lived on the farm for the rest of their lives. Jacob passed away in 1941, and Rebecca in 1954.
Their daughters, Ruby and Iva, continued to live on the farm. In the 1970s, the Fuerst sisters sold their 160 acres of land to the city of Novi. They sold it for a very small amount of money. They were allowed to live on a five-acre part of the farm for the rest of their lives. Both sisters passed away in 1991.
In 2008, the farm buildings were taken down. The land was then redeveloped into Fuerst Park, which is a public park today.
What the Farmstead Was Like
The Fuerst Farmstead was located on about 6.5 acres of land. There was a small hill where the farmhouse used to stand. You could still see parts of the old fruit orchard, mostly pear and apple trees. Other plants like lilac, honeysuckle, and different types of trees also grew there.
The farmstead once had a house built in 1927. It also had four barns and a few smaller buildings.
The House and Barn
The main house was a large, 2500-square-foot building. It was built in the Arts and Crafts style. The outside walls were made of wood, and it sat on a foundation of fieldstone. A stone porch stretched along the front of the house. A very large stone chimney was a main feature on one side.
The "Old Barn" was built in 1876. It was made of wood and had a front gable roof. Its foundation was also made of fieldstone. The barn was built into the side of the hill. This meant you could enter the basement level from the lower part of the hill.
Fuerst Park Today
Today, the site has been turned into a park. It includes an amphitheater where events can be held. There are also large gardens. The historic Novi Township Hall was moved to this site and is now part of the park.
Public Art
Fuerst Park has several sculptures on display for everyone to enjoy:
- Apollo (by Kathy Rose Pizzo)
- Blue Square Back (by Gary Kulak)
- Bouquet (by Andrew Kline)
- The Surveyor (by Charlie O’Geen)
- Sonata (by David Barr)
- Strum and Drang (by John Sauve)
Images for kids
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Fuerst Farm around 1950
