Author Archives: m_taylor
VINTAGE POINT: Houses on Oakland
While not part of the Farmington Historic District, these circa 1910 houses on Oakland (south of Grand River, two blocks west of downtown) still show a clear throwback to their original style. Historic photo from the Farmington Community Library Heritage … Continue reading
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Tagged Farmington, Grand River, historic district, Oakland, then and now
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VINTAGE POINT: The Pierce house
This 1894 house at 33928 Grand River was once home to M.B. and Ernestine Pierce. He was a barber. She was a member of the Ladies’ Literary Club. Historic photo from the Farmington Community Library Heritage Collection. Contemporary photo by … Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Point
Tagged Farmington, Grand River, historic district, then and now, Vintage Point
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VINTAGE POINT: Grand River blacksmith shop
Around 1890, you could get your wagons repaired and horses reshod at the blacksmith shop on Grand River, just west of Farmington Road. Historic photo from Farmington: A Pictorial History Photograph Collection by Brian Golden. Contemporary photo by Maria Taylor. … Continue reading
VINTAGE POINT: First Baptist Church
Farmington’s First Baptist Church, at Farmington Road and Shiawassee, was built in 1861 at a cost of $1,680. The intersection had been the main four corners of town until the 1850s, when Grand River became part of the stagecoach line—and … Continue reading
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Tagged church, Farmington, First Baptist church, Grand River, history, Shiawassee, then and now, Vintage Point
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#SaveYourHD in the News
Note: As of 4/26/2016, the bill has been thrown out by the House Committee on Local Government. It may or may not be reassigned to another committee. We will continue to update this page as the issue plays out across … Continue reading
Posted in #SaveYourHD, historic preservation
Tagged #SaveYourHD, HB 5232, historic preservation, SB 270
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VINTAGE POINT: Grand River Houses
In 1916, Farmington’s downtown streets were lined with residential homes—like these four, across from the Sundquist Pavilion at Grand River and Grove Street. The tree in the foreground stands in what is now Dress Barn in the Downtown Farmington Center. … Continue reading
JEOPARDIZED: Michigan Historic Districts Under Threat
Updated 4/26/2016 Good news! As of April 26, the House Committee on Local Government has tossed out HB 5232, the bill to stamp out historic districts across the state of Michigan. Representative Chatfield, the committee chair, has confirmed in a … Continue reading
Posted in #SaveYourHD, historic preservation
Tagged HB 5232, historic district, historic preservation, SB 720
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VINTAGE POINT: Lee Block
Around 1910, the KitchenMaster store–at the southwest corner of Grand River Avenue and Farmington Road–was part of Lee Block. In its early days, it was home to the H.W. Lee harness store. In the 1950s, it was the Oak Pharmacy, … Continue reading
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Tagged Grand River, KitchenMaster, Lee Block, then and now, Vintage Point
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Maxfield Redevelopment: A First Look at Proposals
Late last fall, the Maxfield Training Center went on the market as its owner, Farmington Public Schools, sought a developer for the long-vacant surplus property. The 58,675-square-foot building stands on about three acres of land and is located on Thomas … Continue reading
VINTAGE POINT: Governor Warner Mansion
Farmington’s iconic Governor Warner Mansion, built in 1867, wasn’t always white. The paint job, plus the signature wraparound porch, was added circa 1910 by Fred Warner, the home’s gubernatorial namesake. 33805 Grand River Avenue, Farmington Historic photo from the Farmington … Continue reading
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Tagged column, Fred Warner, Governor Warner Mansion, Preservation Farmington, Vintage Point
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PRESERVATION FARMINGTON 