Henry Ford Square House
Encyclopedia
The Henry Ford Square House (also known as the Henry Ford Honeymoon House) is a single-family house located at 29835 Beechwood Avenue in Garden City, Michigan
. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980.
and Clara Jane Bryant were married on April 11, 1888. Soon after, they began construction on this house, then located at the corner of Ford Road
and what is now the Southfield Freeway. Clara drew the plans, specifying the kitchen, sitting room, parlor and bedroom. Henry built the house himself, using timber cut on the property and finished in the sawmill he operated. An expert carpenter helped with the fancy-work details, such as the turned balustrades
. The couple moved into the house in about June 1889. Ford later added a workshop, where he experimented with gasoline-powered engines.
The Fords lived in this house only until September 1891, when they left for Detroit. However, they retained ownership of the house until 1937, using it as a summer cottage. Ford gave the cottage to an employee, Robert Smith. After the Fords died, the land around the house was bought by the Ford Land Development Corporation, who told Smith to move the cottage to make room for freeway expansion; in 1952, it was moved to its present location. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980.
and clapboard
siding. The center-entrance front facade has a window cap on the dormer. There is an addition at the rear with a small porch. The four interior rooms are the kitchen (12' X 15'), sitting room (14' X 14'), parlor (18' X 14') and bedroom (10' X 14').
Garden City, Michigan
Garden City is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,692. The city is part of the Metro Detroit region.- History :...
. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979 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 1980.
History
Henry FordHenry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
and Clara Jane Bryant were married on April 11, 1888. Soon after, they began construction on this house, then located at the corner of Ford Road
M-153 (Michigan highway)
M-153 is a state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also known as Ford Road for nearly its entire length, except for its westernmost portion where it splits from Ford Road and junctions with the M-14 freeway...
and what is now the Southfield Freeway. Clara drew the plans, specifying the kitchen, sitting room, parlor and bedroom. Henry built the house himself, using timber cut on the property and finished in the sawmill he operated. An expert carpenter helped with the fancy-work details, such as the turned balustrades
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...
. The couple moved into the house in about June 1889. Ford later added a workshop, where he experimented with gasoline-powered engines.
The Fords lived in this house only until September 1891, when they left for Detroit. However, they retained ownership of the house until 1937, using it as a summer cottage. Ford gave the cottage to an employee, Robert Smith. After the Fords died, the land around the house was bought by the Ford Land Development Corporation, who told Smith to move the cottage to make room for freeway expansion; in 1952, it was moved to its present location. The house was 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 1980.
Description
The Henry Ford Square House is a -story square house, 31 feet on each side, with a mansard roofMansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterized by two slopes on each of its sides with the lower slope at a steeper angle than the upper that is punctured by dormer windows. The roof creates an additional floor of habitable space, such as a garret...
and clapboard
Clapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
siding. The center-entrance front facade has a window cap on the dormer. There is an addition at the rear with a small porch. The four interior rooms are the kitchen (12' X 15'), sitting room (14' X 14'), parlor (18' X 14') and bedroom (10' X 14').