A historic Marshall estate built in 1858 that appears almost frozen in time has hit the market for $1.499,000.
Known as Oakhill, the Italianate-style home sits on approximately 12 acres just three blocks from downtown Marshall. The property offers more than 9,000 square feet of living space, seven bedrooms, five full bathrooms and three half bathrooms, along with a carriage house, barn, tennis court, pub and other outbuildings.
According to listing agent Dylan Tent of Signature Sotheby’s International Realty in Northville, Oakhill offers a rare glimpse into the past, with some of the home’s furnishings and décor expected to remain with the property.
“It’s like a time capsule,” Tent said.
For Patty Williams, the home represents nearly five decades of family history.
Williams was 16 years old when her parents purchased Oakhill in 1979 after discovering Marshall during a trip through the area. Her father, a real estate developer, was immediately drawn to the historic property and relocated the family from Bloomfield Hills.
“All of a sudden we were moving to Marshall,” Williams recalled. The town is about 100 miles away, east of Battle Creek.
Over the next 47 years, Oakhill became the setting for family gatherings, weddings and celebrations spanning multiple generations. Williams said generations of children spent hours playing in and around the Acorn, a playhouse her father built for the family’s grandchildren.
“It was about every little kid’s dream,” Williams said.
The home was built by Chauncey Brewer, one of Marshall’s early settlers, Williams said. Some furnishings believed to have belonged to the Brewer family, along with books and other artifacts connected to the home’s history, are expected to remain with the property.
One of Williams’ favorite features is what she believes is the home’s original wallpaper. A cream-colored pattern with blue swirls lining the main staircase is believed to date to the home’s earliest years.
“It’s amazing how well it has held up,” she said. “There’s no seam pulling, no shifting. It’s kind of cool.”
Her father later added a conservatory inspired by those he and his wife, Lucy, admired while traveling in England. Today, the addition houses a hot tub.
Among the property’s outbuildings is the Nancy Boyer Pub, named after a local actress who was friends with descendants of the Brewer family. Williams said it became the family’s gathering place for cookouts and celebrations.
The property also includes a separate apartment with its own entrance that is currently occupied by a tenant. Williams said previous owners also rented the apartment, which may have originally served as servants’ quarters.
Although Oakhill, at 410 N. Eagle Street, is located just blocks from downtown Marshall, Williams said the property’s wooded areas, gardens and wildlife create a sense of seclusion.
“You really don’t feel like you’re in town at all,” she said.
Marshall is known for its well-preserved historic architecture, with dozens of 19th-century homes and buildings surrounding its walkable downtown.
Now, after nearly five decades of family ownership, Williams and her siblings are preparing to pass the estate to its next owner.
“We’re all sad that it’s not staying in the family, but there’s nobody that wants to take it on either,” Williams said.
Even so, Williams hopes the next owner will appreciate what made Oakhill special to her family. “It should be a place where family gathers and creates beautiful memories as we all did,” she said.
Brendel Clark writes about real estate and other topics for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bclark@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Inside a 168-year-old Michigan estate frozen in time listed at $1.49M
Reporting by Brendel Clark , Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Brendel Clark , Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
