Ticknor, Dr. Benajah, House

Dr. Benajah Ticknor was born in Jericho, Vermont, in 1788, the eldest of nine children. The family moved to Salisbury, Connecticut where the father was killed while many of his children were quite young. The duty of heading the family fell upon Benajah, a duty he performed while at the same time studying medicine. This self-education was sufficient for him to pass the Connecticut medical examination, and he began practice in Sharon. In 1814 he was appointed surgeon in the U.S. Navy, a position which he held until his death in Ann Arbor in 1858. During this time he was fifteen years at sea, and served more than twenty years in naval hospitals. In 1835 Dr. Ticknor purchased about 200 acres of land on the outskirts of Ann Arbor. The purchase price was $1500, indicating that considerable improvements had been made, including possibly a portion of the present building. Tax rolls which included this property are available for 1842 and succeeding years. These were checked in an attempt to establish a date of construction for the house, but with inconclusive results. The owner of the property in 1923 was visited by a ninety-six-year-old carpenter, who said he had added the rear wing to the house in 1843. It is not possible therefore to give a firm date of construction for the Ticknor House, but the original part was probably constructed in the mid-1830s. In 1881 the farm was purchased by William Campbell, and the last four acres are still in the possession of his grandchildren. This tract is surrounded on three sides by a city park and plans are being made for the inclusion of this property in the park. For nearly twenty years the Ticknor House has figured prominently in the plans of the Washtenaw County Historical Society, who wish to preserve it as a historic house museum. Considering its age the Ticknor House is in a remarkable state of preservation. Except for some interior decorating in the late nineteenth century there have been almost no alterations or modernizations. The building was studied by HABS in the 1930s and is probably the best-known cobblestone house in the state, a construction technique that is not often encountered in Michigan.

The Ticknow House is one of the best examples of cobblestone construction in Michigan. The original portion is rectangular, two stories in height, with some classical details. There are eight rooms in the original section, nine more in the frame wing at the rear. On the facade, the cobbles are laid in a herringbone pattern; regular courses were used on the side walls, while the rear wall is random rubble. All mortar joints are a projected, inverted V. Heavy stone quoins are found at all corners of the cobblestone portion. Apart from its unusual length, the rear wing has other features of interest. It incorporated an open-sided, two-bay carriage shed, as well as two built-in privies. Neither of these features have been encountered elsewhere in the Michigan site survey. The interior is remarkable for its originality. Original woodwork and flooring are present, all of whitewood. Whitewood panelling is found in the front parlour. Most of this exhibits its original finish, with only a small part of the woodwork marred by late nineteenth-century paint graining. Probably none of the interior partitions have been altered. Six fireplaces are present, including a massive ten-foot fireplace in the kitchen with a large, built-in copper pot. Six over six windows are found throughout the house, many with original panes of glass. Triangular windows with diamond-shaped panes of glass are in each gable. The wooden front porch seems to be the only major feature that could be considered late nineteenth century. Judged in terms of early extant features, the Ticknor House may prove to be unique in the state.