Torrey, Charles, House

The Charles Torrey House in Oakland County is significant as one of only a few surviving substantially unaltered vernacular, Greek Revival houses from Bloomfield Township's early settlement period. The post-and-beam house is primarily associated with Charles Torrey, a pioneer from upstate New York. Later, it became the home of Philander Walton, Charles Torrey's son-in-law, a prosperous farmer and community leader. The period of significance for the Charles Torrey house is from 1847, when the Charles Torrey family moved there, until 1906 when Philander Walton (Charles Torrey's son-in-law) died. During this time period, Oakland County underwent a profound change from a rural, agricultural society, to a suburban one, based on the development of the industrial cities.

The Charles Torrey House is a Greek Revival, New England, one-and-one-half-story cottage with ell, located on Squirrel Road within the Township of Bloomfield, Oakland County, Michigan. The five-bay wide, wood frame house is located on a hilltop and the facade faces east towards the road. The plan is L-shaped with a one-and-one-half-story core block and an attached one-story ell extension. A wide entablature with five frieze windows and a central entry portico which is supported by square Doric columns distinguish the facade. The interior and exterior of the house reflect a vernacular adaptation of the Greek Revival style. Both the traditional New England floor plan and house type, as well as the national Greek Revival stylistic influence, are present in this house. The interior detailing is still intact with original window and door moldings, high baseboards and window panels, fireplace mantels and pilasters. The house, garage and barn are all in their original location on the property and are of post-and-beam construction. The wood frame house is sided with weatherboard and sits on a fieldstone foundation with a partial basement and crawl space located beneath the ell.