Mackinaw City in Emmet County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Simple Two-Story Farm House 1882

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025

1. Simple Two-Story Farm House 1882 Marker

Inscription.
This 2-room hand-hewn log home is typical of the struggling farms of Northern Michigan in the 1880s. A Mennonite religious leader, his wife, seven children and one grandchild lived in this small, simple house.

In 1882 the government offered land in Brutus, 20 miles south, for sale to the public. A group of Mennonites from Grand Rapids bought land and moved here. Christian Detweiller, age 34, brought his family, parents, and brothers. The land proved difficult to farm and he earned money by building barns, particularly stone barn foundations. His calling, however, was as a Mennonite minister. He built this home out of local trees with the help of his family. The children slept in the drafty attic and the crops were stored in the root cellar under the house. He died in this house in 1917 at 71-years-old.

Susanna, his wife, and then one of their sons continued to live in this house. In 1927 their grandson, Verne Stuebing, bought the house and this family lived in it until 1950. Compare this house with the two others on this property built within just a few years: 1) the Stimpson homestead represents middle class living,

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2) the Anishinaabe plank house represents an economically marginal family. This house represents the simplicity of a religious leader.

Erected 2020 by Mackinaw Area Historical Society & Heritage Village.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.

Location. 45° 46.661′ N, 84° 46.32′ W. Marker is in Mackinaw City, Michigan, in Emmet County. It is at the intersection of Headlands Road and Wilderness Park Drive, on the right when traveling west on Headlands Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1425 W Central Ave, Mackinaw City MI 49701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula,

on the Straits of Mackinac,

and in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025

2. Simple Two-Story Farm House 1882 Marker

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chasing a Dream (within shouting distance of this marker); Kitchen Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Grebe Tool Shanty (within shouting distance of this marker); Three Sisters (within shouting distance of this marker); 3-Seater (within shouting distance of this marker); Freedom School (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mackinaw City's Schools (about 300 feet away); Maple Ridge Farm (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mackinaw City.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 87 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 30, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.