Terney House

Photographed by Joel Seewald

1. Terney House Marker

Inscription. William J. Terney, lumber baron and Civil War veteran, moved to the Roscommon area in 1887 and erected this house in the late 1880s. Shortly afterwards, he began extensive lumbering operations here and was instrumental in bringing the railroad through the village. Near the turn of the century Terney was appointed county treasurer. He was elected village president in 1904, and in later years, served as an officer for the Michigan State Fair. Terney engaged in a real estate business until his death in 1926. Local banker William B. Orcutt purchased this large Queen Anne residence from Terney in 1910. Its interior features white oak parquet flooring and ornate paneling, linking it to the once-booming lumbering epoch of Roscommon.
— Marker text taken from the Michigan Historical Markers, Michigan History Center website

Erected 1980 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number L631.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 44° 29.841′ N, 84° 35.647′ W. Marker was in Roscommon, Michigan, in Roscommon

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County. It was at the intersection of Lake Street (State Highway 18) and Third Street, on the right when traveling west on Lake Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 603 Lake Street, Roscommon MI 48653, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula.

It was also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Our Soldiers (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Michigan Historical Survey Point (approx. 0.3 miles away); Gerrish (approx. 4.4 miles away); Fletcher Fire (approx. 7.8 miles away); Native Plants (approx. 7.8 miles away); A Lot of No Good Land (approx. 7.9 miles away); Welcome to the Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum (approx. 8.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roscommon.

Additional commentary.
1. Terney House demolition
The Terney House and the neighboring Masonic Lodge were demolished between May 28 and May 30, 2012.
— The Houghton Lake Resorter, April 5, 2012.

— Submitted September 7, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.

2. Marker inaccuracies
"Terney was never involved with the construction of the railroad that passed through Roscommon in 1972 [sic] and the Terney House was built in the early 20th century,

Terney House and Marker image. Click for full size.

2. Terney House and Marker

not the 1800s as the sign stated.
— Fishel, D. (2014). Terney House - Masonic Hall related by 1893 marriage that brought worldwide fame via Stanley Johnston's fruit. In C. J. Talarico Roscommon Terney House. Createspace Publishing.

— Submitted September 7, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.

Former site of Terney House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 7, 2023

3. Former site of Terney House Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 338 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 7, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of the marker, which might now be at the Roscommon Historical Society. • Can you help?