That's when the old-house expert, now a member of Shelby Township's historical committee, saw the hand-hewn floor joists. Then she pulled out one of the nails and examined it. "I'm guessing it was built in 1845 -- give or take five years," Davis said. The all-volunteer Shelby committee is trying to photograph and catalogue as many of the township's old houses as it can before they are lost to developers' bulldozers. Shelby Township and other parts of mid and northern Macomb County are attractive areas to developers seeking tracts of land for subdivisions and condominium projects. Developers buy the land and structures -- including the old homes -- on the property and the structures are either torn down or moved. Committee chair Norman Bawkon, a retired Shelby fire chief, estimates that more than 100 of the 19th-century structures built by the township's pioneer families are still standing. Shelby Township has no money in its budget to move any of the old homes to other locations where they can be preserved. He estimated 90 percent are occupied. But some, like the Greek Revival-style farmhouse on 26 Mile, once part of the thriving Prestonville community, won't be around for long. "We're not going to chain ourselves to these houses (to prevent demolition)," Bawkon said. "We know they're going to come down eventually." In the meantime, committee members are trying to create a historical record, first on its Web site and eventually in book form. The first step is an on-site examination. That's why half a dozen committee members, including Davis and Vicki Papesh, toured the 26 Mile house last week. Bawkon said the house was built by the Wilcox family, one of Shelby's pioneer farmers in the early 19th century. Originally, the house was part of a 160-acre spread. The farm was sold piecemeal over the years. The homestead parcel was bought about two years ago by Shelby-based developer Vince Finazzo, who said he has no immediate plans to raze it. Finazzo opened the two-story house to Davis, Papesh and other historical committee members. They came with tape measures, cameras and flashlights. Bawkon refers to Davis and Papesh as the committee's old-house experts. Neither woman concealed her excitement in finally getting inside the old dwelling. "I've always wanted to see a classic New England floor plan that had not been remodeled," said Davis, who holds a master's degree in historic preservation. "This was worth taking half a vacation day from my job." One of the first things Davis and Papesh sought was evidence of a central fireplace. They know that pot-bellied stoves as home-heating appliances did not become common until the 1850s, so a fireplace would help age the house. Papesh, borrowing a step ladder, climbed through the ceiling of an upstairs closet to look at the roof beams. "There was definitely a chimney fire because I can see charred wood up here," Papesh said. Davis said the Wilcoxes were no backwoods dirt farmers. They were well-to-do for their era and could afford to hire professional builders and craftsmen to construct their home. More than 150 years later, the quality still shows through, despite several layers of now-peeling paint and wallpaper on the inside walls. "This house is solid," Davis said. "It's amazing to see it in this condition." Bawkon said it's possible for an old-house enthusiast to buy the old Wilcox home and move it to a new site. Other preservationists have done that elsewhere. That's an option developer Finazzo would entertain. "It would save us the cost of tearing it down," he said. His company has no plans to immediately raze it, he added, but he knows time is running out. Another 19th century home in the unincorporated community of Prestonville, which was centered around 25 Mile and Schoenherr, was demolished earlier this month. Bawkon said his committee has so far catalogued about five such historic homes, some of which are no longer standing. Information and photos of them are posted on the committee's Web site. The historic committee says it's reluctant to publish addresses of the other 100-year-old dwellings in Shelby because they are still occupied. One of them, probably Shelby's oldest existing dwelling, was purchased six years ago by Papesh and her family. "It was more than a weekend project (to make it liveable)," she said. But preservationist Davis says she does not live in a historic structure. "I like old houses, but I'm married to a man who doesn't," she said. "So, we compromised. We have a 1960s ranch."  You can reach Mike Wowk at (586) 468-0343 or mwowk@ detnews.com.
|
|
|
.