Davenport House (Franklin Township, Michigan)
Encyclopedia
The Davenport House is a hotel
currently known as the Bauer Manor. It is located at 1280 U.S. Route 12
(known locally as Michigan Avenue
) near the unincorporated community of Tipton in Franklin Township
in northern Lenawee County
, Michigan
. Under the name Davenport House, it was designated as a Michigan State Historic State
on May 18, 1971 and later listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on May 4, 2007.
Located near Evans Lake and the present-day Hayes State Park
, an original structure was constructed on the location at an unknown date in the 1830s. This log tavern
was built by Henry Sisson, who moved from New York in 1834. The property, including the tavern, was owned by John Davenport from 1839–1864, and he continued to operate the structure as a tavern and inn for travelers along the Chicago Road in the Irish Hills
area. During his ownership, Davenport replaced the original log structure with the current, larger square structure at an unknown date. The property was then owned by Henry Lancaster from 1864 through 1884 and continued operation under the name Lancaster House. Following Lancaster's ownership, the structure also served as a general store
and post office
for quite some time before returning to its primary function as a hotel, although it has served in part as a place for staying visitors ever since the original structure was first built.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
currently known as the Bauer Manor. It is located at 1280 U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
(known locally as 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...
) near the unincorporated community of Tipton in Franklin Township
Franklin Township, Lenawee County, Michigan
Franklin Township is a civil township of Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,939 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
in northern Lenawee County
Lenawee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Under the name Davenport House, it was designated as a Michigan State Historic State
Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office is in charge of the listing of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of Michigan, including buildings, lighthouses, bridges, historic districts, and many other properties deemed important to the history of Michigan...
on May 18, 1971 and later 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...
on May 4, 2007.
Located near Evans Lake and the present-day Hayes State Park
Hayes State Park
Walter J. Hayes State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located along US 12 in the Irish Hills region of Lenawee County and extending into small parts of Jackson County and Washtenaw County in the Round Lake area. The park is surrounded by scenic lakes, namely Wamplers...
, an original structure was constructed on the location at an unknown date in the 1830s. This log tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
was built by Henry Sisson, who moved from New York in 1834. The property, including the tavern, was owned by John Davenport from 1839–1864, and he continued to operate the structure as a tavern and inn for travelers along the Chicago Road in the Irish Hills
Irish Hills
The Irish Hills is an area of land located roughly in southeastern Jackson County and northwest Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its name comes from the Irish immigrants who settled there from 1830-1850...
area. During his ownership, Davenport replaced the original log structure with the current, larger square structure at an unknown date. The property was then owned by Henry Lancaster from 1864 through 1884 and continued operation under the name Lancaster House. Following Lancaster's ownership, the structure also served as a general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
and post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
for quite some time before returning to its primary function as a hotel, although it has served in part as a place for staying visitors ever since the original structure was first built.