The Oldest House in Town

Five homes that have stood the test of time for 145+ years

By Al Parker | Oct. 7, 2023

Historic homes across northern Michigan have stories—and secrets—to reveal, and there are battalions of local historians and amateur sleuths working to unearth their tales, chapter by chapter.

Fueled by curiosity and a quest for knowledge, these folks pour over aging documents, searching for evidence to these structures’ humble beginnings. Tax records, building permits, interviews, personal documents, news reports, and aging photos are a few ways to mine the history of a dwelling.

Their work has led us here, to finding five of the oldest houses across the North.

301 River Street, Elk Rapids

171 years old

Sitting on the main road through downtown Elk Rapids, this home holds the title of the oldest domestic dwelling in the village and the oldest on our list. It dates back to 1852 with a number of additions, mostly added in the 1920s. The saltbox-type structure features a large rear lean-to, and unlike many of its dolled-up Victorian neighbors, the domicile features no sweeping porches, magnificent millwork, or other pastry-like embellishments.

Three hints place this home in the 1850s, the village’s gritty lumber and iron works era, according to Nancy Baker, a volunteer with the Elk Rapids Historical Society. First, the simple design and its irregular window positions indicate a pre-classical influence. Secondly, there’s an 1881 title to Mr. A. Dunning. A news article about the transaction said “Mr. Dunning, who recently purchased the house on River Street formerly owned by S. B. Spencer, is grading and improving the looks of the lot.” This suggests an earlier construction date than 1881.

The final suggestion of an 1850s origin is a quirk of the property. The lot is nonconforming and extends five feet into the public right of way. As a later correction, five feet were shaved off the lot and granted to the next parcel. This pattern of correction occurs in a domino effect for the entire block, indicating that this structure predates the original village plat of 1852.

413 Washington Street, Traverse City

165 years old

Traverse City’s oldest home is a modest one-story bungalow, according to local historian Larry Wakefield, who described the house in his book The Way It Was, published in 2006 by Arbutus Press.

It was built in 1858 by Morgan Bates, who established the first newspaper in TC, The Grand Traverse Herald. At that time, the 400 block of Washington was still in the woods, some distance from the tiny village. In addition to his newspaper career, Bates was very active in politics and served as county treasurer. In 1868 he was elected lieutenant governor of Michigan and served from 1869-1873 under Governor Henry Baldwin.

Bates sold the home to his favorite nephew, Thomas Bates, who moved in with his bride, Martha Cram, on their wedding day, May 5, 1867. Thomas Bates built the first sidewalk in town, a wooden boardwalk that ran from his house to the Park Place Hotel.

Originally only three rooms, the house now features 10 rooms, according to Wakefield.

517 First Street, Manistee

162 years old

This is Manistee’s finest remaining Greek Revival home, built in the early 1860s by D.L. Filer. Filer was one of the pioneer residents of Manistee who served the town as a doctor and lawyer prior to 1860. In 1863, Filer sold the house to William Moore, who built the addition on the rear of the home.

In October 1871, the Great Michigan Fire destroyed a sizable portion of the city, but luckily, this unique home survived. At the time, the house was owned by Horace Green, and during a visit by his brother and pregnant sister-in-law, a baby boy, Fred, was born. Fred Green would grow up to become the 32nd Governor of Michigan.

The house was later owned by Edward Buckley, who later went on, like Filer, to become a prosperous lumberman. Today, a small historical plaque sits outside the home, which is a private residence.

403 Mason Street, Charlevoix

155 years old

Built in 1868, this unassuming vintage home served as the community’s “Second School” for the first five years of its existence. It replaced Charlevoix’s original school, a rustic log affair that badly needed updating, to properly serve the youngsters of the region.

“The building stood at a site near the present entrance to Oleson’s,” according to Charlevoix II, written by noted local historian/author David Miles. “At the end of its tenure it was moved to 403 Mason.” Today, it’s a private residence on a quiet street.

Another venerable structure from that era (circa 1870) sits at 103 Park Street, where Smoke on the Water has been serving tasty breakfasts and tangy BBQ lunches since 2014. It was originally a residence, but now is a landmark eatery for locals and visitors alike.

519 Kalamazoo Street & 613 Mitchell Street, Petoskey

146 years old

 

There’s an ongoing debate over which of these homes might be the oldest in town. Both date to 1877, according to Jane Garver, executive director of the Little Traverse Historical Museum. The home on Kalamazoo was built by attorney, judge, and village president John G. Hill, while the other was constructed under the guidance of another attorney, Charles J. Pailthorp. Both are now private residences.

“We have several others that we haven’t completely ruled out yet, but these two seem to be our top contenders,” said Garver. Anecdotes that help date these historic houses include a news article in May 1878 that says “J.G. Hill moved to his new home [on Kalamazoo] today.”

An obituary of Hill notes that “In 1875 he, with his wife and family, came to Petoskey, and for many years they have made their home in the house at the corner of Kalamazoo Avenue and Hill Street, where Mr. Hill had one of the prettiest places and best cared for orchards and small fruit places within the city limits.”

Pailthorp also served Petoskey as its village president and was 100 years old when he died in 1948. A scrapbook compiled by Pailthorp's daughter features a handmade drawing of the Mitchell Street house and notes that “Father built our first house in 1877.”

“We aren’t sure, actually, which one was finished first,” notes Garver. “They were both built beginning in 1877. Many people say the Kalamazoo Street house is the oldest, but I suspect maybe it is the Mitchell Street house. Both families owned so much property that it isn’t easy to trace. We’re still researching here!”