WARNER PIONEER HOMESTEAD
4001 Pleasant Valley Rd
Brighton, MI 48114
tim
To put the age of the farm in perspective, it was already over 100 years old at the beginning of America's entry into WWII. The farm on which the house now sits began with the purchase of 80 acres for $384 by Timothy Warner in October 1841. However, the Warner's original property purchase occured five years earlier in November 1836 just months before Michigan statehood. These three 40 acre parcels were bought from the US goverment for $1.25 per acre by Timothy's brother, Hiram H. Warner, and were located in sections 10, 11, & 14. Centennial farm status was granted in 1955 based on information provided by fourth generation resident Florence Warner-Chase.
Sixth generation family member, Tim Bennett, applied for Sesquicentennial farm status in 2009. The 186 year old Warner farm is the only Sesquicentennial farm in Brighton Township and one of the few properties still used for agriculture.
In May 2016, the Warner Homestead was recognized by the Michigan Historic Preservation Network with a Special Jury award for the exterior restoration of the 1855 Greek revival house as well as historical, genealogical, and archaeological research. Exterior restoration spanned many months over the spring, summer, and fall of 2015. Restoration was conducted by Randy Klepinger of Klepinger Construction. Application of new paint was conducted by members of the family. The entire house was scraped, primed, caulked, and painted by hand.
The Warner Homestead was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 after a robust nomination process. The house is recognized by the US Department of the Interior as a largely intact example of mid 19th century architecture. Only 13 other structures are currently listed in the NRHP for Livingston county. The plaque was dedicated in the summer of 2016 as part of the 175th anniversary celebration held at the farm.
The 175th anniversary celebration was held at the farm in August 2016. Many family members, friends, neighbors, and members of the community attended. The Warner house and Hicks school were open for attendees to tour and the NRHP plaque was dedicated. A presentation on the historical, genealogical, and archaeological research at the farm was given. Children participated in a variety of activities such as corn shelling and walking on stilts. Artifacts recovered from the Warner site and Hicks school site were on display in the school.
The Warner Homestead has been the focus of extensive archaeological research since 2007. Tens of thousands of artifacts have been recovered dating to the 19th century. Research at the Warner site (20LV334) has been the subject of many articles and presentations around the state. In December 2016, Kerry and Tim Bennett were presented with the Ira W. Butterfield award by the Conference On Michigan Archaeology (COMA) for substantial and sustained contributions to the archaeology of Michigan. Kerry and Tim have worked on a variety of sites around the Great Lakes region and have been active in the Michigan Archaeological Society for many years. Only four other MAS members have received the award in the past 25 years and Kerry is the first female recipient.
Activities at Warner Homestead were recognized with a Governor's Award for Historic Preservation on May 7, 2019 in the State Capitol rotunda. The Warner Homestead was among six historic preservation projects around Michigan to receive the award this year and the first in Livingston County. The award states "For their commitment to preserving and sharing the history discovered at their family homestead. The rehabilitated farmhouse and nearby archaeological investigations uncovered important information about pioneer life in Michigan and are regularly shared with new audiences."
A Michigan Historical Marker was placed at the Warner Homestead on October 2, 2022. The front text reads "Around 1855, Timothy and Lucretia Warner built this Greek Revival farmhouse. Timothy (1819-1900) migrated from Livonia, New York, to Brighton Township in 1837. He was credited with helping organize and name the township later that year. In 1841 he purchased eighty acres at this site for $384. He married Lucretia Jones (1828-1900) around 1847. Timothy co-owned the nearby Woodruff gristmill from 1867 to 1871. By 1873 the Warners had expanded their farm to nearly five hundred acres of land." The back text reads "Pioneer farmers Timothy and Lucretia Warner raised their six children on this homestead, which by 2021 had remained in the Warner family for six generations. Archaelogical excavation, begun in 2007, has yielded thousands of artifacts that reveal information about the family's everyday lives. In 2015, Warner family descendants restored the farmhouse to its nineteenth-century appearance. The site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a Sesquicentennial Farm."
Copyright 2016 WARNER PIONEER HOMESTEAD. All rights reserved.
4001 Pleasant Valley Rd
Brighton, MI 48114
tim