John Dodge House, Historic farmhouse at Oakland University, Rochester Hills, Michigan.
The John Dodge House is a farmhouse on the Oakland University campus that started as a smaller structure and was later expanded to roughly thirty rooms. The additions combine architectural features common to rural buildings from the late 19th century.
A local businessman built the original structure in 1898, and John Dodge and Matilda Dodge Wilson later acquired the property in 1908 as a weekend residence. After purchasing it, they significantly enlarged and modernized the building.
The house reflects the link between Michigan's car industry and the university's founding. It shows how wealthy industrialists used country estates as retreats from city life.
The building today serves as administrative and faculty offices within Oakland University and sits along Golf View Lane. Visitors can view the exterior and grounds, but should check in advance whether public tours are available.
James L. Higgins bought the land in 1896 and built the farmhouse in 1898 for $50,000, a decade before the Dodges bought it. The house has been renovated several times, most recently in 2000.
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