Sawyer House (Monroe, Michigan) facts for kids
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Sawyer House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 302 East Front Street Monroe, Michigan |
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| Built | 1873 |
| Part of | Old Village Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000721 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1977 |
The Sawyer House is a very old and important home in Monroe, Michigan. It's also known as the Sawyer Homestead. Before the current house was built, an even older one called the Navarre House stood here. This historic house is owned by the city of Monroe.
It became a special Michigan Historic Site on June 19, 1975. Later, on November 23, 1977, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places across the United States that are important to history. The Sawyer House is also part of a bigger area called the Old Village Historic District.
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A Look Back in Time
The land where the Sawyer House stands has a long history. People first settled here as early as 1785. It was right along the banks of the River Raisin. This spot was the very first place where European explorers settled in the area.
There have been two different houses on this land since 1785. The first house was built by an early French explorer named Francois Navarre. He was the first European to settle in the area that later became Monroe. The local Potawatomi tribe gave this land to Navarre. His house became the center of the new settlement.
The Navarre House was very important during the War of 1812. It was used as the military headquarters for General James Winchester. He led his troops from this house during the difficult Battle of Frenchtown.
The Navarre House had several different owners over the years. But the current house gets its name from Dr. Alfred Sawyer. He was a well-known doctor who believed in a type of medicine called homeopathy. Dr. Sawyer lived on the property from 1859 to 1870.
In 1873, the Navarre House was taken down to make room for the house we see today. At that time, the Navarre House was the oldest building in the entire county!
The Sawyer House: A New Beginning
The current Sawyer House was built in 1873. It replaced the old Navarre House. The new house was built in a style called Italianate architecture. This style often features tall windows, wide eaves, and decorative brackets.
Interestingly, some parts of the old Navarre House were used to build the new one. For example, the wood from the original house was used to make the stair banister inside the Sawyer House.
Family Ownership and City Gift
Even though Dr. Sawyer moved out in 1870, his family still owned the property. His daughter, Jenny Toll Sawyer, later gave the house to the city of Monroe in 1938.
After the city received it, the house was used by many different groups. These included the Monroe County Historical Museum, the Red Cross, the Camp Fire Girls, and the Boy Scouts.
Restoration and Public Use
For a while, the house stood empty. But then, a group of citizens came together. They raised their own money and worked to fix up the building. They also created an organization just to take care of this historic house.
Today, the Sawyer House is still owned by the City of Monroe. It is available for people to use. A non-profit group called The Sawyer Homestead helps manage the house. They collect rent from events or activities held there, and this money helps pay for the house's upkeep and maintenance.
Gallery
