Troy Historic Village facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Troy Historic Village

Location	60 W. Wattles Rd., Troy, Michigan

The Troy Historic Village is a special place located in Troy, Michigan. It helps visitors imagine what life was like for people living in Troy Township during the 1800s. You can explore many old buildings that have been carefully fixed up. These include the main building (which used to be City Hall), a cozy log cabin, a fancy Greek Revival Home, a one-room brick school, a print shop, and a wagon shop. There's also a town hall, a general store, and a church with its parsonage from the early 1900s. It's like taking a trip back in time!

Exploring the Historic Buildings

The Troy Historic Village has many interesting buildings. Each one tells a story about how people lived long ago.

The Main Building: City Hall's History

The main building was first called Troy Township Hall. Later, it became the City Hall. An architect named J. Bissell designed it in 1927. The township supervisor, Morris Wattles, wanted it to look like an old Dutch colonial tavern from Troy, New York. After it was finished, the museum opened inside this building in 1966.

The Print Shop: Making News and More

This shop belonged to J. Henry Russell. He was a skilled craftsman who worked with wood and metal. He also took photographs! The print shop was a busy place. People used it to make posters, small cards for visitors, and important public announcements. The building itself used to be Troy Township's old water meter. It was changed into the print shop for the village in 1978.

Caswell House: A Greek Revival Home

The Caswell House was built in 1832 by a pioneer named Soloman Caswell. This house is known as a Greek Revival home because of its balanced windows and decorative trim. Inside, stovepipes helped warm all the rooms. It was a typical home for the 1800s. It even had a dry sink for washing dishes. Food was kept in special cabinets with tin panels to keep flies away.

Old Troy Church: A Place of Worship

This church was built in 1837 at Troy Corners. The land for the church was sold for just one dollar by pioneer Johnson Niles! Around 1900, new stained-glass windows were added. Many of the original windows are still there today. In 1862, the church became part of the Methodist Episcopal community. It served as the village's main church until 1963. The original church bell is still ringing today!

The Log Cabin: Pioneer Life

The Log Cabin is a simple, one-room home. It shows what life was like for pioneers in the 1840s. It has a big fireplace that was used for heating and cooking meals. The mother of the house would do handwork while rocking her baby in a cradle. The parents slept on a bed made of rope. The children slept in a loft above, on straw mattresses covered with warm quilts.

The Wagon Shop: Tools and Transport

The Blacksmith at the Wagon Shop made many important things. They created iron farm tools, household items, and parts for wagons. The blacksmith also worked with the village's woodworkers. Together, they built wagons and other useful objects for the community.

The General Store: Village Shopping

Edward Peck built the town's general store in 1832. The original store was taken down in 1963. However, a new one was built to look just like it. This new store helps visitors see what items were sold long ago. You can even see an old cast iron stove inside!

The Parsonage: Home for Ministers

The Parsonage is a cross-shaped house. It was built in 1978 by the Troy Methodist Church. This house was home to more than 25 ministers and their families over the years. Today, it looks like it did in 1910. That's when indoor plumbing and electricity first became available!

Troy Town Hall: From School to Meeting Place

The Troy Town Hall was first built as the Troy Union School in 1864. In 1987, the school building was moved to the Village. It now represents Troy's first town hall. Today, it is a special area where visitors can learn through hands-on activities.

Poppleton School: Learning in the 1800s

Poppleton School was built in 1877. It was named after William Poppleton, who owned a lot of land in Troy. Children from 8 to 14 years old went to this school. Only one teacher taught all the subjects! These included reading, math, spelling, and handwriting. Boys sat on one side of the room, and girls sat on the other. Poppleton School was moved to the Village in 1980.