Governor Charles Croswell House
Encyclopedia
The Governor Charles Croswell House is a building located at 228 North Broad Street in the city of Adrian
in Lenawee County, Michigan
. It was designated as a Michigan State Historic Site
on February 19, 1958 and later listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on March 16, 1972. It is located very close to but is not part of the Downtown Adrian Commercial Historic District
.
This brick, two-story structure was designed in the style of Greek Revival
architecture by Daniel Hicks sometime in the 1840s. The house's fame and namesake come from Charles Croswell
. Croswell was the nephew of Daniel Hicks, and he lived with the Hicks family, as most of his own family died when Charles was very young. He purchased the house from the Hicks family after Daniel died in 1847. Croswell himself moved into the house in the early 1850s, where he started his involvement in local and state politics, later serving as the Governor of Michigan
from 1877–1881. He died shortly after in 1886. Croswell's widow, Elizabeth Merrill, donated the house to the Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
in 1925. Today, the chapter continues to maintain ownership of the house, which now serves as a museum.
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
in Lenawee County, Michigan
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...
. It was designated as a Michigan State Historic Site
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 February 19, 1958 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 March 16, 1972. It is located very close to but is not part of the Downtown Adrian Commercial Historic District
Downtown Adrian Commercial Historic District
The Downtown Adrian Commercial Historic District is a historic district comprising the downtown area of Adrian, Michigan. It was designated as a Michigan Historic Site and added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 17, 1986....
.
This brick, two-story structure was designed in the style of Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
architecture by Daniel Hicks sometime in the 1840s. The house's fame and namesake come from Charles Croswell
Charles Croswell
Charles Miller Croswell was the 17th Governor of the US state of Michigan from 1877 to 1881.-Early life in New York:...
. Croswell was the nephew of Daniel Hicks, and he lived with the Hicks family, as most of his own family died when Charles was very young. He purchased the house from the Hicks family after Daniel died in 1847. Croswell himself moved into the house in the early 1850s, where he started his involvement in local and state politics, later serving as the Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
from 1877–1881. He died shortly after in 1886. Croswell's widow, Elizabeth Merrill, donated the house to the Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Daughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
in 1925. Today, the chapter continues to maintain ownership of the house, which now serves as a museum.