King in Ann Arbor in Washtenaw County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Earhart Manor
Michigan pioneer Elnathan Botsford settled this site in 1825. Harry Boyd Earhart of Detroit, president of the White Star Refining Corporation, purchased the farm in 1917 and named it "The Meadows." The Olmsted Brothers, nationally known landscape architects from Brookline, Massachusetts, planned and directed the development of the grounds, as well as the siting of the house. Many landscape elements of the original plan survive. Smith, Hinchman and Grylls of Detroit designed the house in the French Manor style. A significant feature of the manor, completed in 1936, is the Pewabic tile created for the Earharts by Mary Chase Perry Stratton. Harry and Carrie Earhart were noted philanthropists and patrons of the fine and performing arts.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod purchased 234 acres of the Harry and Carrie Earhart estate in 1961 to construct the campus of Concordia College. The four-year liberal arts college opened in 1963. The manor initially served as a student activity center and housed faculty offices. In 1997 a rehabilitation project was undertaken to restore the architectural features of the house and adapt it for use as the Otto G. Schmid Center. Although converted to offices, much of the original fabric of the house remains intact, including decorative plaster, hardware, crystal chandeliers, and the Pewabic tile elements: two "medieval" family crests, a metallic-glazed tile fountain, and the master bathroom.
Erected 1999 by Michigan Historical Center and Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L2028.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1825.
Location. 42° 16.422′ N, 83° 40.869′ W. Marker is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in Washtenaw County. It is in King. Marker is on unnamed road near Earhart Road, on the right when traveling east. The marker is east of Earhart Road on the unnamed campus road and can be seen from the visitor parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4090 Geddes Road, Ann Arbor MI 48105, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Geddesburg (approx. half a mile away); Connecting With Nature (approx. 0.7 miles away); Landscape Transformed (approx. 0.7 miles away); Native American Trails (approx. 0.7 miles away); Welcome to the Parker Family Mills! (approx. 0.7 miles away); Grist Mill (approx. 0.7 miles away); Cider Mill (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hoyt Garrod Post and Family History (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ann Arbor.
Also see . . .
1. The Earhart Mansion. Article from the Ann Arbor Observer (June 1997). (Submitted on March 8, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
2. Harry Boyd Earhart. Wikipedia article about Harry Boyd Earnhart (Submitted on March 8, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
3. Olmsted Brothers. Wikipedia article about the Olmsted Brothers (Submitted on March 8, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
4. SmithGroupJJR. Wikipedia article about SmithGroupJJR, formerly Smith, Hinchman and Grylls. (Submitted on March 8, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
5. Mary Chase Perry Stratton. Wikipedia article about Mary Chase Perry Stratton with link to Pewabic Pottery. (Submitted on March 8, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 597 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 22, 2023, by John Ridley of Chelsea, Michigan. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 8, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.