Royal Aldrich House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Royal Aldrich House
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| Location | 31110 W. 11 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, Michigan |
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| Area | 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000755 |
| Added to NRHP | August 19, 1994 |
The Royal Aldrich House is a special old home located in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. This house is one of the few homes built in the Greek Revival style in southeast Michigan that is still standing in its original spot. It's like a time capsule from the past!
A Look Back: History of the Royal Aldrich House
In 1823, a man named Esek Aldrich bought the land where the house now stands. He was from Farmington, New York.
Years later, in 1839, Esek's 24-year-old son, Royal, moved from New York to Michigan. He wanted a fresh start after his wife and daughter had passed away.
Soon after arriving, Royal married Betsey Janette Stevens. She was the daughter of a local farmer. Royal and Betsey had three children: Almeron, Bruce, and Erin.
In 1843, Royal built this beautiful Greek Revival farmhouse on his property.
Royal Aldrich passed away in 1856. The farm then went to his wife and children. In 1870, the farm was sold to Frederick Bade, who was an immigrant from Germany.
The Bade family owned the farm until the mid-1900s. After World War II, many new houses were built. The farm land was divided into smaller pieces. For a time, the house was even used as a duplex, meaning two families lived there.
What Does the Royal Aldrich House Look Like?
The Royal Aldrich house is built in the Greek Revival style. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. It has a main tall section and two shorter parts on the sides.
The house is made of wood and covered with clapboard siding. It sits on a foundation made of fieldstone. The tall front part has two stories and a pointed roof. It also has decorative bands that look like a frame.
The two side sections are one story tall and have flat roofs. Both of these side parts have porches on the front. The windows have six small panes of glass on the top and six on the bottom. The original movable shutters are still on the windows.
Inside the House
When you go inside, the first floor has a parlor, a sitting room, a dining room, a bedroom, and a kitchen. The kitchen was probably added around 1880.
Upstairs, on the second floor, there are two more bedrooms. The inside of the house is quite simple. It does not have a lot of fancy decorations. The walls are made of plaster. The floors are made of softwood planks that fit together like puzzle pieces. The stairs leading to the second floor are made of mahogany wood.
