Caretaking
our Victorian home
Documenting what we have learned/discovered about our house and our projects along the way
The known history
The house was designed and built by W.A. Dean Architect for Charles Sherwood
“C. G. Sherwood has had plans drawn by W. A. Dean for a hansom two story residence on Union street” - Traverse City Record Eagle, May 22, 1897.
At this time the family consisted of Charles (C. G. Sherwood) his wife Emma nee Ackerman and 4 children (Willis, Harry, Margaret, and Dorothy). In 1902 they added a third daughter, Donna (who’s name is written on a door in our basement).
Charles worked for the Hannah and Lay company as a book keeper starting in 1893 including managing realestate. They Hannah and Lay company was THE lumber company taking up half of a block of downtown. Perry Hannah is considered the “founding father” of Traverse City. Charles was the executor of Perry Hannah’s estate when he died in 1904.
In 1913 the oldest son, Willis married Married Lottie Bell Longcore and eventually moved to Grand Rapids. They had a daughter Aleatha M. Sherwood in 1917.
In 1917 the second son, Harry, died of tuberculosis, just hours before he would have been 24, in the home. We had been told the first floor kitchen was converted to a bedroom in order to care for a sick son in the home, by previous owners.
In 1922 Margaret married Frederick Donald Manz (of Traverse City). She had gone to Normal School and in the 1920’s census was listed as a living in the home and being a teacher. They eventually moved to Lansing.
In 1924 Donna married Walter Meyers (of Traverse City). They eventually moved to Detroit.
In the 1930’s census only Charles, Emma, and Dorothy were still living in the house. In 1940 Charles died. In 1951 Emma died. She had at the time of her death, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Dorothy remained unmarried and lived in the house until her death August 6th 1980. Dorothy was a Jr. at Traverse City High School in 1913. Dorothy worked for the Hastings Santo Insurance Agency.
Sept. 23rd 1986 George W. and Jill Ann Watson bought the house. They began major restoration efforts, including repairing and repapering the first floor with reproduction victorian wallpaper, installing a custom kitchen (that lasted until we renovated in the 2020’s, and converting the upstairs bedroom that had a toilet and sink into a dressing room with a shower and sink.
In 1992 Chris and Laura Cuffaro purchased the house, and continued restoring it to Victorian splendor. They worked on painting the exterior as a “painted lady” working on painting every year.
We purchased the house in the summer of 2012.