This Old House: Working Together to Save the Benjamin-Barton House

Four local groups are working together to relocate a 19th century Greek-Revival style house, which is part of their   collective history.

Affectionately referred to as the “4-B’s,” the Charter Township of Bloomfield, the City of Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Hills Schools and the Bloomfield Historical Society have formed an unprecedented alliance to save the historic landmark from demolition.

History of the House

Known as the Benjamin-Barton Farmhouse, the house has been a community landmark for approximately 175 years.  Built as early as 1832, presumably by pioneer farmer John Benjamin, on land adjoining the Bloomfield Centre Road (now Long Lake Road), the house has been home to a small number of owners. Their history exemplifies the changes in Oakland County’s Bloomfield area from primarily rural and agricultural roots, to country estates owned by some of the Detroit area’s most prominent families to the comfortable suburban community it is today.

By the early part of the 20th century, three sisters, heirs of George Hendrie - “Father of Detroit’s Street Railways”- bought the farmhouse and turned it into a country retreat and gathering place for their friends and relatives from Grosse Pointe. Jessie, Margaret and Sarah Hendrie were well known in Grosse Pointe for their many charitable activities – and for their love of riding and hunting. Along with their brothers George T. and William they were instrumental in founding the Bloomfield Open Hunt Club, across Long Lake Road from the home they chose to name The Covert.

In 1937, the Hendries sold the house to Carl O. Barton, founder of Barton Malow Construction. For the next seventy years the house was home to Carl and his family who lived a comfortable life among nearly 25 acres of woods, streams and gardens.

Moving a Piece of History

Last year, the property was sold to Mancini Development, who plans to build an upscale development on the site. Recognizing the historic value of the home, the Mancini family offered to sell the home to the City of Bloomfield Hills for $1, provided that it is moved by spring of 2008.

Bloomfield Hills Mayor, Pat Hardy, contacted historical society President Pam Carmichael, Bloomfield Township Supervisor Dave Payne and school district Superintendent Steve Gaynor to determine the possibility of moving the house.

The destination site suggested was the Charles L. Bowers Farm, which is approximately one mile north of the home’s current site, and is a historic 56-acre working farm that serves as an educational facility for Bloomfield Hills Schools.

After an initial joint meeting held by the 4-B’s to determine interest and feasibility, the school board voted to provide space in a newly created Bowers Farm Historic Park. By finally having a farmhouse at the Bowers Farm, numerous opportunities will be created to show what life was like as Bloomfield and Oakland County grew into maturity. It is also anticipated that once the house is moved it will become “home” to the Bloomfield Historical Society.

Last November the 4-B’s held a community-wide Open House to show residents of the area what had been hidden in their midst for more than a century and a half. Over 400 attended the event and raised more than $5,000 of “seed money” to get the project started.

A new non-profit organization, Preservation Bloomfield, has been established through an inter-governmental agreement between the City and the Township. Additional governance will come from the school district and the historical society, which will handle fund-raising and future operational costs of the house going forward.

The move is scheduled to take place in May and will be funded entirely through private donations. To date, over $35,000 has been raised; however, additional funds are needed. If you are interested in contributing to this effort or would like more information, contact the Bloomfield Historical Society.

For additional support with the house relocation, the 4-B’s contacted the staff of Community Planning & Consulting Group Services, a workgroup of Oakland County Economic Development & Community Affairs.  Ron Campbell AIA, Federally Certified Historical Architect and Oakland County Principal Planner for Historic Preservation facilitated technical support provided by the county. This included:

• Evaluation of the farmhouse and the feasibility of moving it
• Evaluation the destination site 
• Recommendations for ways to use the farmhouse in its new location
• Maps of the original and destination site, which highlight their development from 1963 to the present
• Information about Greek-revival style architecture, and preservation initiatives in other communities

“Oakland County is fortunate to have several fine examples of Greek Revival architecture, but as this style represents some of the oldest structures in the county and becomes the target of thinking it has outlived its usefulness,” said Campbell. “Quite the contrary is true; with a little knowledge about the style and design creativity these structures can be preserved and adaptively used to accommodate a variety of needs.”

For more information about how Oakland County can help with preservation efforts in your community, contact Ron Campbell  at 248-858-5436.