Thursday, July 17, 2014

Midwest Road Trip – Monroe MI

The French Town & the River Raisin battlefield are located on the southern edge of what is now the town of Monroe MI.  Monroe  has a long & varied history which are noted on the historic markers sprinkled throughout the town.   The town’s most famous – or maybe infamous – citizen is George Armstrong Custer.  He gets his own statue & a park.Monroe MI (3) Custer Statue

Monroe  MI(12) Custer Historic Plaque

I find it most interesting was isn’t said on the plaque.

Just north of Monroe proper sits the oldest known wood building in Michigan.  The Navarre-Anderson Trading Post was built in 1789 at Frenchtown &  was later moved to its present location on the bank of the River Raisin nearer Lake Erie.

Monroe MI (5) Navarre-Anderson Trading Post

The building is of a French post & beam construction.  It also has more than a few bullets from the War of 1812 lodged within its walls.

Monroe MI (6) Cut-a-Way Showing Wall Construction & Embedded Bullets

Other late 18th & early 19th century buildings are also located in the Navarre-Anderson Park.

Monroe MI (4)

Early 19th Century Barn

Monroe MI (9)

Navarre-Morris Cabin

This cabin was originally twice as long with  2 more windows & a 2nd chimney at the other gable end..   It was built ca 1810 & is constructed in the French brique entre poteaux manner.

Monroe MI (10) Outdoor Clay Oven

There is an outdoor clay oven where colonial & federal era cooking demonstrations are done on summer weekends if it isn’t raining.  The Trading Post & cabin are also open with attired interpreters present.  The interpreters come rain or shine.  Unfortunately I was here on a weekday.  

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