McGulpin House
Encyclopedia
The McGulpin House is a historic house museum, located in a structure originally built before 1780 and now located at the corner of Fort Street and Market Street on Mackinac Island, Michigan
. It is owned, operated, and opened to the public during the summer months by Mackinac Island State Park
as part of Historic Downtown Mackinac Island.
style. Its origins are unknown; it has not always stood on its current location. An analysis of the home's structural timbers indicates that they were hand-sawn with a pit saw, which indicates that the timbers were cut prior to the construction of the Mill Creek
sawmill in about 1790.
The house's timbers and design style indicate, but do not prove, that the structure was constructed prior to the settlement of Mackinac Island in 1780-1781. It is known that several private frontier houses were built in the vicinity of Fort Michilimackinac
in the period between 1763 and 1780, which were prosperous years for the fur trade
at the Straits of Mackinac
. In 1780 Lieutenant Governor Patrick Sinclair
, in a move related to the American Revolutionary War
, ordered the fur traders and private citizens of the Fort Michilimackinac settlement to move to a fortified village on the southern end of Mackinac Island. The Strait of Mackinac froze solid with ice that winter, and there is documentary evidence that some wooden houses were partly dismantled and carried across the ice to their new island settlement. It is believed that the McGulpin House may have been one of these homes.
After the War of 1812
the United States consolidated its political and economic control over Mackinac Island, the fur trade boomed, a title deed registry was opened, and written real estate records began. In 1819, what is now the McGulpin House was purchased by William and Madeline McGulpin, a craftsman baker
and his wife. The McGulpins operated a shoreline farm on the Lower Peninsula mainland, near what is now Mackinaw City
. The site of their farm was later named McGulpin Point
in honor of these pioneer settlers.
With local grain in hand, the McGulpins specialized in baking bread
and hardtack
for the American Fur Company
's establishment on Mackinac Island. The fur company post on Market Street was by far the largest employer at the Straits of Mackinac, and resupplied dozens of fur traders who fanned out over the Upper Great Lakes by birchbark canoe
to trap and trade for fur
s.
The McGulpin House was moved to its current location in 1981. It has been opened to the public as a barebones restoration that concentrates on the actual structure of the home at it would have appeared around 1820, shortly after the McGulpins moved in. The McGulpins were a working-class family who would not have possessed a home fitted with many of the furnishings used by more prosperous families in the early American upper class
. The McGulpin House can be compared with the nearby Biddle House
, an upper-class home.
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an island and resort area covering in land area, part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European...
. It is owned, operated, and opened to the public during the summer months by Mackinac Island State Park
Mackinac Island State Park
Mackinac Island State Park is a state park located on Mackinac Island in the U.S. state of Michigan. The island park encompasses 2.81 mi² , which is approximately 74% of the island's total area of 3.78 mi² . The park is also within the boundaries of the city of Mackinac Island and has permanent...
as part of Historic Downtown Mackinac Island.
History and today
The McGulpin House is built in a working-class French CanadianFrench Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
style. Its origins are unknown; it has not always stood on its current location. An analysis of the home's structural timbers indicates that they were hand-sawn with a pit saw, which indicates that the timbers were cut prior to the construction of the Mill Creek
Historic Mill Creek State Park
Historic Mill Creek State Park is a state park, nature preserve, and historic site in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is run by Mackinac State Historic Parks, the operating arm of the Mackinac Island State Park. 625 acres in size, the park is located 5 miles southeast of Mackinaw City, Michigan...
sawmill in about 1790.
The house's timbers and design style indicate, but do not prove, that the structure was constructed prior to the settlement of Mackinac Island in 1780-1781. It is known that several private frontier houses were built in the vicinity of Fort Michilimackinac
Fort Michilimackinac
Fort Michilimackinac was an 18th century French, and later British, fort and trading post in the Great Lakes of North America. Built around 1715, it was located along the southern shore of the strategic Straits of Mackinac connecting Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, at the northern tip of the lower...
in the period between 1763 and 1780, which were prosperous years for the fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
at the Straits of Mackinac
Straits of Mackinac
The Straits of Mackinac is the strip of water that connects two of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and separates the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is a shipping lane providing passage for raw materials and finished goods, connecting, for...
. In 1780 Lieutenant Governor Patrick Sinclair
Patrick Sinclair
Lieutenant-General Patrick Sinclair was a British Army officer and governor in North America. He is best remembered for overseeing the construction of Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island in what was to become the U.S. state of Michigan.-Biography:Sinclair was born in Lybster, Scotland, and enlisted...
, in a move related to the American Revolutionary War
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, ordered the fur traders and private citizens of the Fort Michilimackinac settlement to move to a fortified village on the southern end of Mackinac Island. The Strait of Mackinac froze solid with ice that winter, and there is documentary evidence that some wooden houses were partly dismantled and carried across the ice to their new island settlement. It is believed that the McGulpin House may have been one of these homes.
After the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
the United States consolidated its political and economic control over Mackinac Island, the fur trade boomed, a title deed registry was opened, and written real estate records began. In 1819, what is now the McGulpin House was purchased by William and Madeline McGulpin, a craftsman baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
and his wife. The McGulpins operated a shoreline farm on the Lower Peninsula mainland, near what is now Mackinaw City
Mackinaw City, Michigan
Mackinaw City is a village in Emmet and Cheboygan counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2000 census the population was 859. The name "Mackinaw City" is a bit of a misnomer as it is actually a village...
. The site of their farm was later named McGulpin Point
McGulpin Point Light
McGulpin Point Light was constructed as a navigational aid through the Straits of Mackinac. The light began operation in 1869, making it one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the Straits...
in honor of these pioneer settlers.
With local grain in hand, the McGulpins specialized in baking bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
and hardtack
Hardtack
Hardtack is a simple type of cracker or biscuit, made from flour, water, and sometimes salt. Inexpensive and long-lasting, it was and is used for sustenance in the absence of perishable foods, commonly during long sea voyages and military campaigns. The name derives from the British sailor slang...
for the American Fur Company
American Fur Company
The American Fur Company was founded by John Jacob Astor in 1808. The company grew to monopolize the fur trade in the United States by 1830, and became one of the largest businesses in the country. The company was one the first great trusts in American business...
's establishment on Mackinac Island. The fur company post on Market Street was by far the largest employer at the Straits of Mackinac, and resupplied dozens of fur traders who fanned out over the Upper Great Lakes by birchbark canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
to trap and trade for fur
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
s.
The McGulpin House was moved to its current location in 1981. It has been opened to the public as a barebones restoration that concentrates on the actual structure of the home at it would have appeared around 1820, shortly after the McGulpins moved in. The McGulpins were a working-class family who would not have possessed a home fitted with many of the furnishings used by more prosperous families in the early American upper class
American upper class
See: millionaire for more details-Millionaires:See also: MillionairesHouseholds with net worths of $1 million or more may be identified as members of the upper-most socio-economic demographic, depending on the class model used...
. The McGulpin House can be compared with the nearby Biddle House
Biddle House (Mackinac Island)
The Biddle House is a historic house and fur trade shop space, built before 1800 on Market Street on Mackinac Island in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of Mackinac Island State Park...
, an upper-class home.