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Cobblestone Farm and Museum

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Coordinates: 42°14′42″N 83°42′38″W / 42.24500°N 83.71056°W / 42.24500; -83.71056
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For other uses, see Cobblestone Museum.
Dr. Benajah Ticknor House
Front view
Cobblestone Farm and Museum is located in Michigan
Cobblestone Farm and Museum
Cobblestone Farm and Museum is located in the United States
Cobblestone Farm and Museum
Location2781 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan
Coordinates42°14′42″N 83°42′38″W / 42.24500°N 83.71056°W / 42.24500; -83.71056
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built1835 (1835)
Built bySteven Mills
Architectural styleCobblestone construction, Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.72000662[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 21, 1972
Designated MSHSMay 17, 1973[2]

The Cobblestone Farm and Museum, which includes the Dr. Benajah Ticknor House (also known as the Ticknor-Campbell House) is an historical museum located at 2781 Packard Road in Ann Arbor Michigan.[3] The museum gets its name from the cobblestone used to build the farmhouse.[4] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972[1] and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1973.[2]

History

The site of the Cobblestone Farm had been a farm as far back as 1824 and remained an operating farm well into the late 20th century.[5] Ezra Maynard originally cleared the land on which the farm now sits.[5] In 1835, Maynard sold the property to Heman Ticknor, who purchased it on behalf of his brother, naval surgeon Dr. Benajah Ticknor.[2] That same year, Heman Ticknor constructed a small frame house on the property. In 1844, Benajah Ticknor built the cobblestone farmhouse, probably with the help of builder Steven Mills.[4] Benajah Ticknor traveled extensively on assignments with the Navy, but retired to his farm in 1854 with his wife Getia and two adopted daughters.[6] Benajah Ticknor died in 1858, at which time his extensive medical library was donated to the University of Michigan.[2]

In 1860, Horace Booth purchased the farm from Getia Ticknor.[7] Horace and his son Nelson farmed and improved the property, adding the fountain that still exists today. In 1881, William Campbell purchased the farm, and he and his descendants continued to farm the property until 1955.[2] The family continued to own it until 1972, when the city of Ann Arbor purchased the property for use as a museum.[2]

Restored to its mid-nineteenth-century appearance, the farm today serves to provide a glimpse into the pioneer history of the surrounding community.[3] The site was acquired by the city of Ann Arbor as a city park and is leased to the Cobblestone Farm Association. In addition to its educational mission, the farm also serves as a venue for festive occasions such as picnics, fairs and weddings.[5]

Description

The Dr. Benajah Ticknor House is a rectangular two-story Classical Revival house with a side-gable roof onstructed of cobblestones laid in a herringbone pattern.[2] The center front entrance is flanked by Doric pilasters, and the corners of the house feature stone quoins. The one-and-a-half story frame ell in the rear is the original 1835 house constructed by Heman Ticknor. In the kitchen stands a large fireplace with bake oven and water heater made from hand-hewn brick.[8] Very few alterations have been done to the building, and both exterior and interior are in essentially original condition.[2] The house was included in a 1933 survey for the Historic American Buildings Survey.[8]

In addition to the cobblestone farmhouse, the Museum property also includes a large barn, tool shed, corn crib, and smokehouse.[9] A c. 1835 log cabin, moved to the property from southeastern Washtenaw County, is also on display.

  • Cobblestone Farm Ticknor-Campbell House, rear view
    Cobblestone Farm Ticknor-Campbell House, rear view
  • Cobblestone Farm barns
    Cobblestone Farm barns
  • Cobblestone Farm historical marker
    Cobblestone Farm historical marker

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Ticknor, Dr. Benajah, House". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Cobblestone Farm Museum". Pure Michigan. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Grace Shackman (September 1989). "Cobblestone Houses in Washtenaw County". Ann Arbor Observer. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c "Cobblestone Farm Association History: A Historical Time Line for Cobblestone Farm". Cobblestone Farm Association. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Cite error: The named reference "hist5" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Cobblestone Farm Association History: The Ticknors (1835-1860)". Cobblestone Farm Association. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  7. ^ "Cobblestone Farm Association History: The Booths (1860-1880)". Cobblestone Farm Association. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  8. ^ a b F. Orla Varney, Dr. Benajah Ticknor House, Survey number: HABS MI-19 (PDF), Library of Congress
  9. ^ "Cobblestone Farm Association: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Historic Cobblestone Farm". Cobblestone Farm Association. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
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