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Sibley House (Detroit, Michigan) facts for kids

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Sibley House
Sibley House Detroit MI.jpg
Location 976 East Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Built 1848
NRHP reference No. 71000432
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP April 16, 1971
SolomonSibleyDetroit
Solomon Sibley, an important figure in early Detroit

The Sibley House is a historic home located in Detroit, Michigan. You can find it at 976 East Jefferson Avenue. This special house is currently used as the Rectory for Christ Church Detroit, which means it's where the church's priest lives. The Sibley House was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1958. Later, in 1971, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, marking it as a very important building in American history.

Who lived in the Sibley House?

Sibley House Detroit 1934
The Sibley House in 1934

The Sibley House was built for Sarah Sproat Sibley and her two daughters. Sarah was the widow of Solomon Sibley, a very important person in early Detroit. Solomon Sibley moved to Detroit in the late 1790s. At that time, Detroit was just a small village. He was one of the first lawyers to live there.

Solomon Sibley held many important jobs in government. In 1799, he started working in the local government for the Michigan Territory. In 1806, he became the mayor of Detroit. From 1815 to 1824, he served as the U.S. District Attorney for Michigan. He even represented Michigan in Congress from 1820 to 1823. Later, from 1824 to 1827, he was a judge on the Michigan Territory's highest court. Solomon Sibley passed away in 1846. Soon after, his wife, Sarah, built this house for their family.

What does the Sibley House look like?

The Sibley House is built in a style called Greek Revival. This style was popular in the 1800s and looks like ancient Greek temples. The house has a wooden outer covering called clapboard. Its roof is shaped like a triangle on the sides, which is called a side-gabled roof.

The front of the house faces Jefferson Avenue and looks very balanced. It has five sections, with windows that have decorative frames. In the middle of the front, there's a main entrance with columns, making it look grand and welcoming.

How has the Sibley House been used?

For many years, the Sibley House stayed in the Sibley family. Solomon Sibley's descendants lived there from when it was built in 1848 until 1925.

In 1925, the family sold the house to Christ Church Detroit, which is located right next door. The church used the house for different things for a while. Then, in 1946, it became the parish rectory. This means it became the official home for the church's priest, and it still serves that purpose today.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Casa Sibley para niños

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