72220 29 Mile Rd, Washington

Linda’s Monday Morning Moaning’s

The Joseph Moyers Residence

On October 3, 1825 Henry Moyers (Moires) purchased this 80 acres of land on 29 Mile Road east of Mound Road. The start of this piece was started in an already posted blog piece from a few weeks ago. Joseph Moyers would purchase this property, then eventually purchase the property next to this parcel where another home was built on Mound Road.

Moyers house showing part of the Washington Center Cemetery

The white clapboard Victorian farm house was constructed between 1860 and 1863. The home features three gables with a wrap around porch that faced east and south and a bay window facing east. The property would ultimately enlarge to 120 acres. It is next to this home that the Washington Center Cemetery would come into being.

Gilbert Moyers would become the second owners of the home and property. He attended the Romeo branch of the University of Michigan and become an attorney and was a colonel in the Third Michigan Cavalry. By 1863 the house and farm had been deeded to Gilbert’s brother, Joseph and on his death his wife Hannah becomes the owner. In 1881 the house was sold to John Aldrich and 1897 Allen McKay purchased the house and property for $5,400. In 1924 Noah Cooley purchased the home. The Cooleys were part of a settlement called Cooleys Corners. Many more families would occupy the home till Richard and Joy Muir leased it in the 1980’s.

House on it’s way to the new property on Campground Road

By 2003 the house would need to be moved to avoid demolition, due to Washington’s push for progress. But due to great interest, very hard and fast work, the home was moved from 29 Mile Road and find a hew home on property on Campground Road, right around the corner from its previous site. The house would now have the wrap around porch in the front and side, opposed to side and back of the house orientation.

On that ‘wee’ note, till next week.

How the house sits today

Vintage images courtesy of the Melvin E and Joan D Bleich Collection at the Romeo Community Archives, Romeo District Library. Present day image the authors collection.

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Published by Linda Osborne Cynowa

Linda Osborne Cynowa has lived in the Washington Township community since 2007. She moved to this area because of its beautiful hills, stunning scenery, and fruit orchards. Linda’s background is in photography, genealogy, and with a lifelong love of history, found herself working in a voluntary capacity with the Romeo Community Archives at the Romeo Kezar Library. She researched the many historic homes and families in the Romeo and Washington area, which led to a keen interest and knowledge of the area’s history. With a love of the Arcadia Publishing ‘Images of America’ books, she was always bothered that Washington Township wasn’t represented. When inquiring about this, she was told, “You haven’t written it yet”! With the encouragement of the Archivists at the Community Archives, a proposal was submitted for consideration. In September of 2019, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP became part of the ‘Images of America’ series.

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