Adrian has listed the historic Fee House for $220,000, pairing the offering with deed restrictions aimed at preserving one of the community’s best-known historic properties.
The house, built in 1845 and once owned by Harry and Harriet Kimball Fee, is located at 411 S. Main St. across from Fee Park. Harry Fee is credited with founding Hidden Lake Gardens. Harriet Fee, meanwhile, established an endowment that continues to support the maintenance and beautification of local parks.
The property came into city ownership in December 2024 through the estate of Thomas D. Hood, who left the home and other possessions to Adrian. Before the transfer, the estate installed a new roof. Officials have said the home nevertheless suffered water damage and requires substantial restoration before it can be considered fully habitable.
City leaders determined there was limited public benefit to maintaining the large historic residence, and instead hope to locate a buyer willing to restore and preserve the property.
As part of a due diligence review completed this spring, staff examined environmental conditions, infrastructure, utilities, financial factors and the home’s historic significance. The Adrian City Commission approved several deed restrictions designed to protect the property’s historic character.
The restrictions require the home to remain an owner-occupied, single-family residence. The property cannot be demolished, subdivided or developed with additional residential structures. The exterior paint colors must remain the same or substantially similar to existing colors.
An appraisal completed in September 2024 valued the property at roughly $220,000, with staffers estimating an updated market value between $215,000 and $225,000.
According to real estate listings, the 5,242-square-foot colonial home has five bedrooms on roughly 1.48 acres.
— Contact reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @cmurrayhdn.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian is selling the historic Fee House, but not without stipulations
Reporting by Corey J. Murray, The Daily Telegram / The Daily Telegram
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Corey J. Murray, The Daily Telegram | USA TODAY Network
