Collection	Charles Draper Collection
Date of photo	late 1890s early 1900s
Description	The Old Wilcox house is located on 1142 North Holbrook Avenue on the corner of Hardenberg Street in Plymouth. Henry Holbrook built this Greek-Revival house in 1840. The construction was made sturdy by the use of wooden pegs, a typical mode of construction for barn raising of that time. Originally built as a farmhouse the property included 320 acres, including a wood mill and gristmill. Mr. Holbrook arrived in Plymouth in the late 1820s with the first wave of settlers. He laid out the Village of Plymouth in 1837 and established Holbrookville, present day Old Village. Holbrook became involved in politics and was Plymouth's first justice of the peace. Since Plymouth was an important station on the Central Michigan line of the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War, it is believed Holbrook aided in this endeavor. In 1870 the home was sold to John and Jack Wilcox. In 1927, the Wilcox's sold the land to Henry Ford with the exception of two acres surrounding the house. Henry Ford would build a small factory and a public park on a portion of the land. This park would later become part of Hines Park. In 1940, the house changed ownership once more to former Plymouth Mayor Harold Guenther and his wife Geneva who further restored the home. This photograph was taken in the late 19th or early 20th century.
Object ID	2004.144.459
Object Name	Negative, Film
Place	Plymouth Michigan
Title	The Old Wilcox House

Plymouth Historical Society Museum
155 South Main Street
Plymouth, Michigan 48170-1635
734-455-8940
archivist@plymouthhistory.org    
Last modified on: June 12, 2009