I recently visited one of the oldest homes in Fraser Michigan; the Baumgartner House established in 1875. This home is now a museum and an official Michigan Historic Site. This is a great site to see a bit of the past without having to travel to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. A lot of students from the area visit this home for research projects for school. This was my first visit. I was greeted by volunteers who happily shared some of the history about the home. They displayed some wares that were for sale to raise money for the renovation and up-keep of the home. As I walked through the home I realized how small it was and how tough it may have been to raise a family in this size of a home. We have it so lucky now. The tour guide noted that all of the family gatherings for meals and get togethers were in the dining/kitchen area. This was also the area where they took their baths. This area was convenient because the stove was there to warm the water for the tub. The front sitting area of the home was for special occasions, guests and for funerals. The bedrooms were very small and used mostly for sleeping. No luxury of a master suite. The exterior of the house was made of brick. I was told that the construction was done so well that the house will stand for many years to come. The house includes many antiques from the time period to show what things were used in their daily lives. A lot of the items have been generously donated. It was well worth the trip. I probably spent less than an hour and felt very welcome there. Plus, the tour was free. Can't beat that!
The house is located at the corner of Masonic Avenue and Kelly Road in Fraser Michigan and can be visited on the first Sunday in every month, January, February and July excluded, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm for FREE. Special tours can be set by calling 586-294-6633. I'm told that the gardens look great in the summer! I will have to go back.
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