Farmington Hills in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Botsford Inn

Photographed By Joel Seewald, March 20, 2021

1. Botsford Inn Marker

Inscription. This historic structure was built as a home in 1836 by Orrin Weston and converted into a tavern by Stephen Jennings in 1841. Milton Botsford bought what was by then called the Sixteen Mile House in 1860. It was a stagecoach stop popular with drovers, farmers and travelers on the Grand River plank road. Henry Ford, who in the 1880s attended dances at the inn with his future wife Clara, bought it in 1924. He renovated the inn to reflect the Victorian era. He first used it as a private retreat. Later he opened it to the public. The Anhut family bought the property in 1951, operating it as one of the state's oldest inns until 1999. That year Botsford Hospital bought the property. The hospital rehabilitated the building in 2008. The exterior reflects its Ford-era appearance.

Erected 2011 by Michigan Historical Commission—Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number HB24.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.

Location. 42° 26.622′ N, 83° 19.405′ W. Marker is in Farmington Hills, Michigan, in Oakland County. Marker is at the intersection

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of Grand River Avenue (State Highway 5) and Botsford Drive, on the right when traveling north on Grand River Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 28000 Grand River Avenue, Farmington MI 48336, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Shiawassee Indian Trail (approx. half a mile away); Clarenceville School District / Louis E. Schmidt Auditorium (approx. 0.9 miles away); Redford Township District No. 5 School (approx. 1.9 miles away); Detroit United Railway (approx. 2 miles away); The Potawatomi Indians of Farmington (approx. 2.8 miles away); Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 2.9 miles away); Travel Through Time (approx. 3 miles away); Nardin Park United Methodist Church (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Farmington Hills.

Also see . . .
1. Botsford Inn. Wikipedia article. (Submitted on March 24, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

2. The Departed Historic Buildings of the Botsford Inn. Article in the Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch from August 10, 2011 that includes pictures of Botsford Inn buildings that were demolished. (Submitted on March 24, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

3. National Registry of Historic Places Inventory — Nomination Form. (Submitted on March 24, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Botsford Inn and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, March 20, 2021

2. Botsford Inn and Marker

Other Botsford Inn Signs image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, March 20, 2021

3. Other Botsford Inn Signs

Left sign:
1835 16 Mile House
Stephen Jennings 1835
John Claucherty 1849
Milton Botsford 1860
Frank Botsford 1883

Right sign:
1924 The Botsford Inn
Henry Ford 1924
The Anhut Family 1951
Botsford Hospital 2007

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 693 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 24, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.