Beaubien House
Encyclopedia
The Charles Trombly House is located at 553 E. Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan
. It is more commonly known as the Beaubien House, and is currently the headquarters of the Michigan Architectural Foundation
. The building is one of the oldest remaining houses in Detroit, and was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1975 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
s, owned by Antoine Beaubien. The farm had a quarter of a mile frontage on the river, but which ran nearly three miles inland. Beaubien was a Colonel in the Detroit Militia and received the patent certificate for his land in 1810.
In June 1850, just before his death, Antoine Beaubien sold lot 8 on Jefferson to Charles J. Trombly for the sum of $2,000. Trombly was Beaubien’s cousin and a recent graduate of Georgetown College
. The consensus among historians is that the house was built by Trombly sometime during 1851 for use by Trombly and his new wife.
Over the next two decades, the house was owned or rented by multiple families. These include some of the city’s oldest and most familiar names, such as McClelland, Cicotte, Whipple, Chapoton, Campau, and Beecher, among others. In 1872, the house was sold to John F. Antisdel
, whose family owned or rented the home until 1943 (save a five-year period when William H. Machen
lived in the home).
After WWII, ownership records are spotty. In 1956, photographer Fred A. Plofchan rented the house; he bought it in 1965. During this time, plumbing lines were extended to the upper levels, which were rented as studio apartments, and the house was used as a combination of office and residential space. The Michigan Architectural Foundation later rented the building, completely renovating it in 1987.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It is more commonly known as the Beaubien House, and is currently the headquarters of the Michigan Architectural Foundation
Michigan Architectural Foundation
Michigan Architectural Foundation is housed in the historic Beaubien House, one of Detroit's oldest residential properties. The foundation shares office space with the Michigan Society of Architects...
. The building is one of the oldest remaining houses in Detroit, and was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1975 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
History
The Beaubien House is built on the site of one of Detroit's original ribbon farmRibbon farm
Ribbon farms are long, narrow land divisions, usually lined up along a waterway. In some instances, they line a road.-Description:...
s, owned by Antoine Beaubien. The farm had a quarter of a mile frontage on the river, but which ran nearly three miles inland. Beaubien was a Colonel in the Detroit Militia and received the patent certificate for his land in 1810.
In June 1850, just before his death, Antoine Beaubien sold lot 8 on Jefferson to Charles J. Trombly for the sum of $2,000. Trombly was Beaubien’s cousin and a recent graduate of Georgetown College
Georgetown College (Georgetown University)
Georgetown College, infrequently Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences, is the oldest school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The College is the largest undergraduate school at Georgetown, and until the founding of the Medical School in 1850, was the only higher education division...
. The consensus among historians is that the house was built by Trombly sometime during 1851 for use by Trombly and his new wife.
Over the next two decades, the house was owned or rented by multiple families. These include some of the city’s oldest and most familiar names, such as McClelland, Cicotte, Whipple, Chapoton, Campau, and Beecher, among others. In 1872, the house was sold to John F. Antisdel
John F. Antisdel
John Francis Antisdel was an American hotelier.Antisdel was born in Paris, New York, but moved with his family at age six to a farm near Brooklyn, Michigan in 1835. In 1850, he moved to Detroit, Michigan and became a clerk in a hotel. In 1855, he married Sarah Parshall in Detroit...
, whose family owned or rented the home until 1943 (save a five-year period when William H. Machen
William H. Machen
William Henry Machen , was a painter and teacher.William Henry Machen was born in Arnhem, Holland. He was the oldest son of Augustine Ulysses Machen, a government-employed civil engineer, and Agatha Kuyke of Werkendam, Holland. His early education was by tutors. He also received art instruction...
lived in the home).
After WWII, ownership records are spotty. In 1956, photographer Fred A. Plofchan rented the house; he bought it in 1965. During this time, plumbing lines were extended to the upper levels, which were rented as studio apartments, and the house was used as a combination of office and residential space. The Michigan Architectural Foundation later rented the building, completely renovating it in 1987.