Sibley Hoyt House

Oakland County's Oldest House, 1820 Et seq.; The Oldest Continually Occupied House in Michigan

The beginning of this historic house located in downtown Pontiac, Michigan is a cabin that dates to 1819 or 1820 just after the sawmill was up and running. The sawmill and cabin, each a Pontiac Company resource, were owned by Solomon and Sarah Sibley. Early additions to the cabin were made across the north and west sides. The front portion of the current house dates to 1840 and was a separate house moved here in 1867. Additions made to that newly formed edifice include a bathroom, dining room, fireplace, all around the turn of the century. The front porch was likely widened at this time. A side porch of Victorian style also was added on the east side with a side door entering onto it. The porch and door are since removed.

Contents

• Oakland Countys Oldest House 1820 Et seq The Oldest Continually Occupied House in Michigan
• Name Change
• Cabins Beginnings
• Early Structures Details
• Sibley Hoyt House Chronology
• Legacy
• Other Connections
• References

Name Change

In November 2004, the Hoyt House, located at 146 W. Lawrence St., in Pontiac, Michigan within the Franklin Boulevard Historic District, became the Sibley-Hoyt House. Eighteen years of research had come to an end conducted by its owner at that time. The house was purchased in December 1986 by Ronald Gay with little known history as recorded in its inclusion of the Franklin Boulevard Historic District's creation in 1982, listed as Hoyt House. Upon moving into the old house Gay began questioning aspects of the structure's features. He, a carpenter, contractor, home inspector, found several inconsistencies with the brief history that existed about the house when he bought it. He began by researching deeds at the county clerk's office. He then researched records at the Burton Historical Collection in Detroit's main library. He also was able to access the original minutes (copies) of the Pontiac Company, responsible for the settlement of the village of Pontiac, on file at the Pontiac Public Library.

Cabin's Beginnings

The house was originally dated to 1840 during the survey as part of the creation of the Franklin Boulevard Historic District in 1982. That part of the history is correct, although, that date only pertains to the front facade, a two-story mid Greek Revival era structure that as it turns out was moved to the current site in 1867 by George Hoyt and connected to the cabin. The origins of the current house are a cabin measuring 18 feet by 20 feet. It was built on a cellar. The original roof structure for the cabin still exists albeit another larger roof has enclosed it within the attic. The cabin was one of the first structures built in the new village of Pontiac with sawn timbers. It was owned by Solomon and Sarah Sibley who were responsible for the financing the founding of Pontiac and the creation of both the Pontiac Company and the mercantile firm of Mack, Conant and Sibley.

Early Structure's Details

The many historical facts and physical observations collected by Gay have created a new history on the house that was inserted into the file of the house at the state and national level. They are as follows: 1. The cabin was built on a 10-acre site (outlot 14) part of the original plat of the village of Pontiac; 2. It was built soon after the sawmill in Pontiac was running as of 1819; 3. It has a cellar door, extant and viewable from the basement, though covered over, that would have allowed a community cellar easily accessed from the north wall of cabin, facing Huron Street; 4. Two remaining exterior cabin walls (now interior walls) are leaning west indicating the weakness and simpleness of the original structure prior to the front structure being moved here; 5. Original cabin floor boards and roof boards measure in excess of 18"; 6. The original chimney to the cabin exists albeit it served a wood stove not a fireplace; 7. Structural evidence in the cabin's attic and cellar support the assertion that the front 2-story house was moved to this site; 8. Very early window sash and glass exists, presumably from the cabin, that were relocated to newly created outside walls in the late 1800s, glass being blue; 9. Patching in of molding, siding, plaster indicate the front house was part of a greater house and changes were made to it after being moved here; 10. Existence of a partial chimney along with removal of a fireplace in front parlor, and, sagging front entry hall floor, indicate the house was moved with a fireplace sitting on the floor structure that was never re-supported, causing floor beams to sag and offering further proof that the front house was moved here.

Sibley-Hoyt House Chronology

An overview of the events related to this house from creation to present are as follows: The cabin was built by Solomon and Sarah Sibley of Detroit who were the organizers and financiers of the new settlement at Pontiac. They owned outlot 14 that was part of the original town plat and was also part of the "Mill Privilege" a deed that included all the water rights to the Clinton River within the town's limits and all the structures on the banks of said river there. The structure would have been used for lodging for Judge Sibley when in town, but as importantly for itinerant farmers, workers who needed a place to stay while they worked to build their own home or were just residing here while working on building projects. The 10 acres provided ample land in town for growing crops and keeping livestock. The cellar, being on high ground from the town proper, was likely the first cellar in town and a community resource for sure. It kept the milk cool in summer, and root vegetables cool, and from freezing, in winter. The cabin remained in the Sibley's possession for almost ten years when it was sold to William Thompson, another Pontiac Company member, neighboring landowner and resident.

The cabin, on its ten acres, was sold to Francis Darrow and Abel Peck in 1836 and became part of, with other land, Darrow and Peck's Subdivision, Pontiac's second subdivision. The cabin was now on a city sized lot. Evidence shows that the cabin had a least one, likely two, early additions across the back and to the west. Evidence includes structural features and architectural similarities to the cabin.

After creation of the subdivision the cabin exchanged hands no less than four times before being repurchased by Francis Darrow, this time as an individual. He held the property until 1861 when it was sold to Richard Elliott a worker for a carriage manufacturer. Elliott lost the property to foreclosure and in 1863 it was purchased by Professor George Hoyt. The Hoyt Family would occupy the house for 111 years, ending with the daughter Georgia in 1974.

During the Hoyt ownership the front house was moved here in 1867 and connected to the cabin. It was a wedding present to George's new wife Caroline when they married that same year. The front house had a fireplace originally but was later removed due to a lack of underpinning upon the house being moved here. The house, dating to around 1840, had two rooms down, a staircase and entry hall, two rooms up with a closet. A birds-eye map from 1867, showing structures and other town features, verifies the existence of the house with the larger house moved to this site. It was in the later 1800s, after George's death, that other improvements and additions were made including an indoor toilet and bath, dining room, living room fireplace.The front porch was likely enlarged at that time and an uncovered side porch was also built. A screened porch off the back of house was the last addition and appears to be from the 1950s or 60s.

Legacy

The legacy of this house includes being part of the founding of Pontiac, being one of the oldest structures in the state and region, being the birthplace of the Michigan Animal Rescue League, and having music taught from this house for 101 years by all of the Hoyt family: George, Caroline, Georgia.

Other Connections

Solomon Sibley sold land to the first African American in Pontiac in 1825, and the first African American woman in the state, Elizabeth Denison, later becoming Elizabeth Denison Forth. It's possible that Ms. Denison stayed in this cabin at the time she purchased 48.5 acres here. Though Steven Mack assigned the deed to Ms. Denison, it was at the direction of Solomon Sibley. Mack was agent for the Pontiac Company. One of his key duties was to sign deeds when land owned by the company was conveyed.

Francis Darrow, was an owner twice, lastly and singularly in 1850. Darrow was a known abolitionist. He was secretary, and a founding member,of the Anti-Slavery Society here in 1836. He was member of the First Baptist Church here, whose members included many abolitionists. He owned a large house directly next door on the east side of the Sibley-Hoyt House. It's very possible that during the years of the Fugitive Slave Act, enacted in 1850, this cabin was used for the purpose of hiding runaway slaves. There are two other sites in Pontiac purported to be stations on the Underground Railroad. One was at the n.w. corner of Orchard Lake Road and Williams Street, The other was Dr. Paddock's place where the Grace Center Mission stands. Both places are just a few blocks from the Sibley-Hoyt House.