Commandant's Quarters (Dearborn, Michigan)
Encyclopedia
The Commandant's Quarters at the Dearborn Arsenal is a military structure located at 21950 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, Michigan
. It is the oldest building in Dearborn still located on its original site, and is considered to be one of the seven most significant buildings in Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1956 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1970.
The building is part of the Dearborn Historical Museum, which also includes the 1831 Richard Gardner House and the McFadden-Ross House (originally the 1839 powder magazine
).
on the strategically important "Chicago Road" (now Michigan Avenue
) that linked Detroit to Chicago. Approximately 235 acre (0.9510121 km²) was set aside for a "military reservation." In July 1833, work was begun on eleven buildings comprising what was at the time called the "Detroit Arsenal at Dearbornville" The construction of the arsenal lasted from 1833 to 1837. The first commandant of the arsenal, Colonel Joshua Hand, proposed naming the surrounding area after Major General Henry Dearborn
, a New Hampshire physician and hero of the war of Independence.
The eleven buildings of the Arsenal were spaced around a walled square, 360 feet (109.7 m) on a side; the ten-foot-high masonry wall was thirty inches thick and completely enclosed the square. These eleven buildings were:
The Arsenal Proper (with powder magazine) was located outside the walled square.
After 1877, the armory became a civic center named the "Liberty Hall," hosting events such as dancing, lodge meetings, and roller skating. In 1899, the armory was converted into a woolen mill; in 1910 the mill was destroyed in a fire. The bricks from the building were used to build new homes, some of which still stand in the area.
The guard house, enlisted men's barracks the surgeon's quarters were used as residences. In 1893, all three were demolished to build a school. The sutler's shop was remodeled and used for, among other things, a doctor's office. The carpenter shop and the smith's shop were combined into one two-story, three-unit building. The structure was used as a lumber mill and later by the Detroit-Dearborn Motor Car Company
and by a paint shop. The saddler's shop was used as a residence, and in the 1920s was converted into the Dearborn Town Hall and used for meetings until 1928. It was sold to S. S. Kresge
and removed from the property, and was destroyed in 1946.
The gun carriage shed was converted into a two-story structure in 1906 for use by the Masonic Temple. It was later used by Pride Cleaners; only a portion of the building remains. The arsenal office was used as a residence, and later as a commercial store. It was demolished in the early 20th century. The arsenal proper was converted into a private residence in 1883 by Nathaniel Ross. The structure was donated to the city of Dearborn in 1950. Currently located at 915 Brady Street, it was renamed the McFadden-Ross House, and is used as a museum.
The last remaining structure of the original eleven, the commandant's quarters, served as a social and cultural in Dearborn until 1875. The building was later used as a library, American Legion hall, a town hall, police station, school, and a newspaper office. In 1949, the commandant's quarters were purchased by the Dearborn Historical Commission for use as a museum. The building was restored in 1959, and in 1970 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. As of 2010 it houses the Dearborn Historical Museum.
with square columns extends around the front and side of the building. The wrought iron railing near the front entrance is hand-made.
Much of the interior of the Commandant's Quarters has been restored to resemble the original makeup of the building. The wall and sliding doors between the Commandant's office and dining room on the first floor has been replaced, and the second floor partitions, removed in the 1930s, have also been re-installed.
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
. It is the oldest building in Dearborn still located on its original site, and is considered to be one of the seven most significant buildings in Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1956 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 1970.
The building is part of the Dearborn Historical Museum, which also includes the 1831 Richard Gardner House and the McFadden-Ross House (originally the 1839 powder magazine
Magazine (artillery)
Magazine is the name for an item or place within which ammunition is stored. It is taken from the Arabic word "makahazin" meaning "warehouse".-Ammunition storage areas:...
).
History
In the early 19th century, the Detroit Arsenal was located in the city of Detroit. The arsenal's main purpose was to serve as a supply depot for the army; storing, maintaining, and repairing arms and ammunition. However, by the 1830s, the population of the city had grown such that there was fear of the stored explosives endangering the city's population. The US Congress authorized the construction of a new arsenal west of Detroit in the village of Dearbornville.Construction
In July 1832, a site for the new Arsenal was selected located near the Rouge RiverRiver Rouge (Michigan)
The River Rouge, also known as the Rouge River, is a river in the Metro Detroit area of southeastern Michigan. It flows into the Detroit River at Zug Island, which is the boundary between the cities of River Rouge and Detroit....
on the strategically important "Chicago Road" (now Michigan Avenue
U.S. Route 12 in Michigan
US Highway 12 is a US Highway that runs from Aberdeen, Washington to Detroit, Michigan. In the US state of Michigan it runs for . Previous to the creation of Interstate Highways in Michigan, US 12 ran along Michigan Avenue between Kalamazoo and Detroit, a highway corridor now served by I-94...
) that linked Detroit to Chicago. Approximately 235 acre (0.9510121 km²) was set aside for a "military reservation." In July 1833, work was begun on eleven buildings comprising what was at the time called the "Detroit Arsenal at Dearbornville" The construction of the arsenal lasted from 1833 to 1837. The first commandant of the arsenal, Colonel Joshua Hand, proposed naming the surrounding area after Major General Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn was an American physician, a statesman and a veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Born to Simon Dearborn and Sarah Marston in North Hampton, New Hampshire, he spent much of his youth in Epping, where he attended public schools...
, a New Hampshire physician and hero of the war of Independence.
The eleven buildings of the Arsenal were spaced around a walled square, 360 feet (109.7 m) on a side; the ten-foot-high masonry wall was thirty inches thick and completely enclosed the square. These eleven buildings were:
- The Armory, which was the largest of the buildings and used as both a storehouse and social center.
- The Sutler's Shop, where tobacco and personal articles were sold to the soldiers.
- The Guard House
- The Enlisted Men's Barracks
- The Surgeon's Quarters
- The Carpenter Shop, which around 1865 was converted into a chapel.
- The Smith's Shop
- The Saddler's Shop, where equipment for horses was made and repaired.
- The Gun Carriage Shed
- The Arsenal Office
- The Commandant's Quarters
The Arsenal Proper (with powder magazine) was located outside the walled square.
After 1877
The arsenal was eventually judged to be no longer useful, and in 1877 the buildings were publicly auctioned off by the US government. The only building remaining of the original eleven still in its original location and form is the commandant's quarters.After 1877, the armory became a civic center named the "Liberty Hall," hosting events such as dancing, lodge meetings, and roller skating. In 1899, the armory was converted into a woolen mill; in 1910 the mill was destroyed in a fire. The bricks from the building were used to build new homes, some of which still stand in the area.
The guard house, enlisted men's barracks the surgeon's quarters were used as residences. In 1893, all three were demolished to build a school. The sutler's shop was remodeled and used for, among other things, a doctor's office. The carpenter shop and the smith's shop were combined into one two-story, three-unit building. The structure was used as a lumber mill and later by the Detroit-Dearborn Motor Car Company
Detroit-Dearborn
The Detroit-Dearborn was an automobile manufactured in Dearborn, Michigan by the Detroit-Dearborn Motor Car Company from 1910-11. The Detroit-Dearborns used four-cylinder engines. Two notable models were the Minerva, which was a touring torpedo, and the Nike, which was a roadster....
and by a paint shop. The saddler's shop was used as a residence, and in the 1920s was converted into the Dearborn Town Hall and used for meetings until 1928. It was sold to S. S. Kresge
S. S. Kresge
Sebastian Spering Kresge , was the founder of the S. S. Kresge Company, one of the 20th century's largest and best-known retail organizations...
and removed from the property, and was destroyed in 1946.
The gun carriage shed was converted into a two-story structure in 1906 for use by the Masonic Temple. It was later used by Pride Cleaners; only a portion of the building remains. The arsenal office was used as a residence, and later as a commercial store. It was demolished in the early 20th century. The arsenal proper was converted into a private residence in 1883 by Nathaniel Ross. The structure was donated to the city of Dearborn in 1950. Currently located at 915 Brady Street, it was renamed the McFadden-Ross House, and is used as a museum.
The last remaining structure of the original eleven, the commandant's quarters, served as a social and cultural in Dearborn until 1875. The building was later used as a library, American Legion hall, a town hall, police station, school, and a newspaper office. In 1949, the commandant's quarters were purchased by the Dearborn Historical Commission for use as a museum. The building was restored in 1959, and in 1970 it 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...
. As of 2010 it houses the Dearborn Historical Museum.
Description of the Commandant's Quarters
The Commandant's Quarters is a square, red brick building on a brick foundation. The hipped roof is covered with slate, and has gabled dormers and a balustrade. A two-story verandahVerandah
A veranda or verandah is a roofed opened gallery or porch. It is also described as an open pillared gallery, generally roofed, built around a central structure...
with square columns extends around the front and side of the building. The wrought iron railing near the front entrance is hand-made.
Much of the interior of the Commandant's Quarters has been restored to resemble the original makeup of the building. The wall and sliding doors between the Commandant's office and dining room on the first floor has been replaced, and the second floor partitions, removed in the 1930s, have also been re-installed.