Members-Only Meetup: Nooks & Crannies of Caswell House

Members-Only Meetup: Nooks & Crannies of Caswell House

Tuesday October 7, 5-6:30pm
Free for THS Members!
Scroll down or click here to register.

Go behind the scenes to see how staff used artifacts and stories to further interpret Caswell House. You'll be able to explore both the second floor and basement of Caswell House. Learn why we chose to stage the house to look as it might have in the 1860s and see some new artifacts on display!

Meet the Caswell House

Built by pioneer Solomon Caswell in 1832, this house includes elements of Federalist and Greek revival architecture and was used as a private family residence for approximately 130 years (1837 – 1965). During that time, Solomon’s son and two grandchildren inherited the home. One of the grandchildren was William Caswell.

In 1965 when William died without heirs, he left the house to his friend, the mailman. The mailman sold the property to the North Hills Christian Reformed Church and the Church planned to demolish the house and build a new church on the site. After negotiations between the Church and the Troy Historical Society, the house was donated to the City of Troy and moved to this spot in 1968. This was the Troy Historical Society’s first effort to preserve local history by moving buildings and creating the Historic Village that we now know today.

Although the house was built in 1832, we present the house in the 1860s period after the Civil War. By this time, Troy was becoming well known for its excellent corn, wheat, melons, and other fruit, as well as wool and dairy products. Thanks to the growing agricultural industry, pioneers who initially settled in the Troy area were able to begin developing larger family homes like the Caswell house. Families that lived in these homes had more expendable income for luxuries like the piano in the parlor or separate rooms for parents and children.

What to Expect

This program begins promptly at 5pm. Check-in inside the General Store (large white building inside the Village). After checking in, you can hang out inside the General Store until the program begins at 5pm. At 5pm, Jen Peters will give a short presentation with artifacts inside the General Store. Afterwards, you will explore the Caswell House to see our updates! Bathrooms are located inside the General Store.

Jen Peters, THV Executive Director, will be inside the General Store with a handout to help you explore the newly interpreted building and to answer any questions you might have.

You'll explore the newly reinterpreted first floor that includes re-arranged furniture and new artifacts to make the home fuller and feel lived-in. This program also gives you exclusive access to the second floor and basement of Caswell House which are normally closed to visitors. Click HERE for other parking and arrival information.

When you are through exploring Caswell House, please exit through the same gate that you entered.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have accessibility questions, please click here to visit our accessibility page or contact us at info@thvmail.org and we will be happy to help!

• How do I become a Troy Historical Society (THS) Member? Click here to learn more about becoming a member and to purchase a membership.
• Do I need to register in advance? No, but it is helpful for our planning to know how many people are coming.
• What happens if I’m running late? Should I still come? Yes! This is a self-paced experience, so you won't miss anything by arriving late.
• I registered online, but I have friends/family that want to join. The more the merrier! Just be sure that you have a Household Membership level or higher, or that your friends/family have their own THS Membership.
• Will I be able to get around easily using my wheelchair or walker? Maybe? The Village offers three accessible parking spaces in our west parking lot. The Caswell House does have a wheelchair-accessible entryways and is connected to the wide paved pathway that's around the Village. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available inside the Old Troy Church. However, this experience does include the upstairs and basement of the Caswell House which are not ADA accessible. Caswell House is also a small space, so you may find it difficult to navigate the rooms.
• Will food or drink be available? No, Troy Historic Village does not sell food, nor do we have water fountains. You are welcome to bring a bottle of water, snacks, or a picnic dinner to enjoy outdoors on the picnic tables. Please note we are a peanut free facility.
• Will I be able to explore the rest of the Village? No, we will be locking up the rest of the Village at our normal closing time. But remember, you are a member and can visit them for free during our normal operating hours!
• Can I bring my dog? Only service animals are allowed at the Village. We strive to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable, so please leave your pets at home.
• Should I still come if it is raining? Yes! This program takes place indoors, so please come as long as you feel comfortable with the weather. We do monitor the weather and will adjust our programs as necessary.

Parking & Directions

Troy Historic Village is located at 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy MI 48098 (northwest corner of Wattles and Livernois). There are two parking lots at the Village, and you can park in either one. After you park, head inside the side gate of the Main Building (large, red brick building facing Wattles). We will have green and white signs to direct your path