Southfield City Centre in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Mary Thompson Farm
Photographed By Joel Seewald, November 11, 2017
1. Mary Thompson Farm Marker
Inscription.
Mary Thompson Farm. . , The land upon which you stand was generously donated by a very remarkable woman, Miss Mary Elizabeth Thompson. Her great-grandparents and grandparents were pioneer settlers of Southfield Township. During a time when it was rare for a woman to receive an education, Miss Mary graduated from high school in Birmingham, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor's Degree and two Master's Degrees. In 1909 she completed her Doctorate in Education. , , With earnings from her teaching salary, Miss Mary saved the 80 acre family farm from auction, and she purchased an additional 86 acres of surrounding land. , , As with her family members before her, Miss Mary was very civic minded. At 87 years old, she walked nearly two miles in the rain to pay her taxes. She sold 106 acres to the City of Southfield under market value to build the Civic Center and donated her 60 acre farm upon her death. , ,
The Flock. Miss Mary was an avid reader and enjoyed spending time in her garden. In addition to raising chickens and selling eggs, she would tend her sheep and sell wool. She was out in the field with her flock on the day she passed away at the age of 96. , ,
The Farm House. This house was built by Matthew Erwin in 1840 where he and his family lived until 1860. In 1870, Margaret Ann Parks and her husband William Thompson purchased the Farm House where they raised their 5 children. The youngest was Mary Elizabeth. Later in life Miss Mary lived here with her older brother James. , , After Miss Mary's death, the City of Southfield renovated the house to preserve the structural integrity and to give future generations a glimpse of a long past way of life. The score-hacked massive timbers of the original structure are still intact, showcasing pioneer construction methods. , ,
Thompson Family History. David Stewart , 1795 married to Ann in Ireland , 1831 moved to Southfield with daughter Margaret and her husband John Parks , donated part of their farm for a school house , organized the Covenenter Church , , John and Margaret Parks , 1838 donated part of their farm for the church , , Margaret Ann Parks and William Thompson , 1861 married by J.S.T. Milligan , 1870 bought farm , had five children including Mary and James , , Mary Elizabeth Thompson , 1871-1967 , sold land under market value to create civic center , willed house and farm for senior use
The land upon which you stand was generously donated by a very remarkable woman, Miss Mary Elizabeth Thompson. Her great-grandparents and grandparents were pioneer settlers of Southfield Township. During a time when it was rare for a woman to receive an education, Miss Mary graduated from high school in Birmingham, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor's Degree and two Master's Degrees. In 1909 she completed her Doctorate in Education.
With earnings from her teaching salary, Miss Mary saved the 80 acre family farm from auction, and she purchased an additional 86 acres of surrounding land.
As with her family members before her, Miss Mary was very civic minded. At 87 years old, she walked nearly two miles in the rain to pay her taxes. She sold 106 acres to the City of Southfield under market value to build the Civic Center and donated her 60 acre farm upon her death.
The Flock
Miss Mary was an avid reader and enjoyed spending time in her garden. In addition to raising chickens and selling eggs, she would tend her sheep and sell wool. She was out in the field with her flock on the day she passed away at the age of 96.
The Farm House
This house was built by Matthew Erwin in 1840 where he and his family lived until 1860. In 1870, Margaret Ann Parks
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and her husband William Thompson purchased the Farm House where they raised their 5 children. The youngest was Mary Elizabeth. Later in life Miss Mary lived here with her older brother James.
After Miss Mary's death, the City of Southfield renovated the house to preserve the structural integrity and to give future generations a glimpse of a long past way of life. The score-hacked massive timbers of the original structure are still intact, showcasing pioneer construction methods.
Thompson Family History
David Stewart
1795 married to Ann in Ireland
1831 moved to Southfield with daughter Margaret and her husband John Parks
donated part of their farm for a school house
organized the Covenenter Church
John and Margaret Parks
1838 donated part of their farm for the church
Margaret Ann Parks and William Thompson
1861 married by J.S.T. Milligan
1870 bought farm
had five children including Mary and James
Mary Elizabeth Thompson
1871-1967
sold land under market value to create civic center
willed house and farm for senior use
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.
Location. 42° 28.659′
via Southfield Historical Society, unknown
2. Mary Elizabeth Thompson (February 7, 1871 – October 21, 1967)
N, 83° 14.43′ W. Marker is in Southfield, Michigan, in Oakland County. It is in Southfield City Centre. Marker is at the intersection of Evergreen Road and Boardwalk Boulevard, on the left when traveling south on Evergreen Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25630 Evergreen Road, Southfield MI 48076, United States of America. Touch for directions.
View of the south side of the Southfield Civic Center, which is located about 0.3 miles north of the Thompson Farm House.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 478 times since then and 86 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on November 16, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 2. submitted on April 15, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4. submitted on November 16, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.