The history of the Sullivan House

primesuspect

The history of the Sullivan House

Jared

I find myself checking IntoDetroit multiple times a day for updates. Please keep them coming :)

Jokke

How exciting. The fact that the house is so old, but still in fairly good shape must mean it's just win.

primesuspect

Look at this hilarious poster Nicole found today:

Matt

A fascinating example of old race relations and caricature. You guys should frame that. While its content is clearly... inappropriate, it's a great piece of history.

WagsFTW

Looks like someone is selling a copy of that book "Woodbridge Historical Sketches" on Amazon. Definitely need to scan some of those pages! Also, planning to hopefully visit this weekend to visit you guys, do some research at the library, and check out the house and the neighborhood. :)

SugarCheryl

I have read alot about this house and the plight of Detroit on the abandoned forums I belong to. We have had alot of members wishing that we could save all the beautiful homes there. The city is rich with history and architecture that we will never have in current homes and buildings. Its great to hear that one at least will be saved. Is it okay if I post and update about your home as you restore it? It would be a really great feature story. :-)

primesuspect

Yeah, absolutely! What's the forum?

RyanMM

Yeah, please link to that forum! I'd love to know more.

Brahm

It looks like the Sullivans also had a live-in servant named Burt Agnes at the time of the 1900 census. Daniel's mother and both of Catherine's parents were of Irish descent.

primesuspect

Oh man. Thanks, Brahm!

DavidW

This continues to be a great read. Thanks again for sharing the story as it evolves. I can't stop reading! It's fantastic to have the history on the house. You've truly chosen a gem. Beyond what you're doing for yourselves, what you're doing for Detroit is even more admirable. The house will live on because of you guys.

totustuus

http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/detroit/
If you go to this website you will be able to read the story behind the renumbering of all the streets in Detroit in 1921.

Lincoln

I used an inflation calculator to determine the house would've cost about $65,000 and the carriage house $10,000 in 2010 dollars. The insurance company was estimating more like $350,000 for replacing it today. Yikes.

primesuspect

That just doesn't seem accurate at all. There's no way you could have built that house for $65K in 2010.

Ryder

100% no way, 1910 dollars maybe ;D

Lincoln

That just doesn't seem accurate at all. There's no way you could have built that house for $65K in 2010.

Of course not, because no one builds houses like that anymore and the materials and skills are scarce. Inflation doesn't account for all the other variables involved.

Katherine D Doornink

Not only do you have a house, a house with history - with a life! How exciting.....can't wait for the next chapter.