Governor Robert McClelland House
Encyclopedia
The Governor Robert McClelland House is a private residence located at 47 East Elm Avenue in the city of Monroe
in Monroe County
, Michigan
. It was listed as a Michigan Historic Site
on March 3, 1971, and it was the first property in the county to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on September 3, 1971.
The house was named in honor of famed politician Robert McClelland
, who owned the house from 1841–1853. Today, the house is also part of the larger East Elm-North Macomb Street Historic District
and is located in its original location just east of North Monroe Street (M-125
) and across East Elm Avenue from the River Raisin
in one of the oldest sections of Monroe.
The house was built in 1841 in the style of Greek Revival architecture
for McClelland, who served as mayor of Monroe that same year. McClelland was a very well known local and state politician and eventually rose to national politics. He left Monroe to serve in the United States House of Representatives
, representing Michigan's 1st congressional district
from 1843–1849. McClelland maintained ownership of the house even after he was elected Governor of Michigan
in 1852. It was from this position that he was selected by President Franklin Pierce
to be his Secretary of the Interior
in 1853. At that point, McClelland sold his house to local merchant Benjamin Dansdard. The entire western portion of the house, which contains a library, bedroom, kitchen, and dining room, was not part of the original house and was later added. The front entrance was originally off-centered and surrounded by baluster
s, but these were removed with the addition of the west wing. Today, the house is privately owned.
Monroe, Michigan
Monroe is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,733 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but both are politically independent. The city is located approximately 14 miles ...
in Monroe County
Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
, Michigan
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 was listed as a Michigan Historic Site
Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office is in charge of the listing of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of Michigan, including buildings, lighthouses, bridges, historic districts, and many other properties deemed important to the history of Michigan...
on March 3, 1971, and it was the first property in the county to be 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...
on September 3, 1971.
The house was named in honor of famed politician Robert McClelland
Robert McClelland (American politician)
Robert McClelland was a U.S. statesman, serving as U.S. Representative from Michigan, the ninth Governor of Michigan, and United States Secretary of the Interior.-Early life in Pennsylvania:...
, who owned the house from 1841–1853. Today, the house is also part of the larger East Elm-North Macomb Street Historic District
East Elm-North Macomb Street Historic District
The East Elm-North Macomb Street Historic District is a residential historic district located in the city of Monroe in Monroe County, Michigan. The district was listed as a Michigan Historic Site and added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 6, 1982.This district comprises...
and is located in its original location just east of North Monroe Street (M-125
M-125 (Michigan highway)
M-125 Connector is a connector route running through Erie. It connects I-75 with M-125. It is a four lane divided highway for its entire length, named "Summit Street" in Erie. It is known internally to the Michigan Department of Transportation as "Connector 2"...
) and across East Elm Avenue from the River Raisin
River Raisin
The River Raisin is a river in southeastern Michigan, United States that flows through glacial sediments into Lake Erie. The area today is an agricultural and industrial center of Michigan. The river flows for almost , draining an area of in the Michigan counties of Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw,...
in one of the oldest sections of Monroe.
The house was built in 1841 in the style of Greek Revival architecture
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
for McClelland, who served as mayor of Monroe that same year. McClelland was a very well known local and state politician and eventually rose to national politics. He left Monroe to serve in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, representing Michigan's 1st congressional district
Michigan's 1st congressional district
Michigan's 1st congressional district is a United States Congressional district containing the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan as well as part of the Lower Peninsula. Currently the district is represented by Republican Dan Benishek.-Geography:...
from 1843–1849. McClelland maintained ownership of the house even after he was elected Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
in 1852. It was from this position that he was selected by President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
to be his Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
in 1853. At that point, McClelland sold his house to local merchant Benjamin Dansdard. The entire western portion of the house, which contains a library, bedroom, kitchen, and dining room, was not part of the original house and was later added. The front entrance was originally off-centered and surrounded by baluster
Baluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
s, but these were removed with the addition of the west wing. Today, the house is privately owned.