Category Archives: Houses

The historic Charles Lee house, also known as the ” Cat Lady’s House” , is back on the market. Here is your chance to own one of the most famous houses in Saginaw. Yeah I know it’s in bad shape and needs a lot of work but it’s not impossible, just look at what was done with the Ransom Gillis House in Detroit HERE. if you don’t know about the history of the home you can read about it HERE

at the asking price of only $25,000 it’s a good deal for such an amazing home, but the City of Saginaw who owns the home does have the stipulation that whoever purchases the house, show proof of funds to renovate the house, and submit a detailed plan outlining costs and time frames to complete project, and planned use for property that must be approved by the City of Saginaw.

I do hope someone will purchase it who can restore it to it’s former glory, I think it could be a place of pride for both the owner and the City of Saginaw, you can check out the listing HERE

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I love this grand old home on Braley Street that overlooks Fordney Park. I don’t know anything about the house, but I had to stop and get a pic.

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According to the Saginaw Historic Preservation facebook page, the City council overturned the vote to demolish Rosemary’s house at 633 S Washington Ave. Other than that I don’t have any more information.

you can follow the Facebook page for Rosemary’s house HERE

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The Home at 544 Millard was originally started in 1880 by Chester B. (Posey) Jones who wanted replicate the stately homes in England which he loved so much. After starting the project he soon ran out of money to finish it and it became known as Jones’ Folly. Local attorney William L Webber purchased the partially constructed house and completed it. The house was an exquisitely built second empire mansion with ornate woodwork and high ceilings. The interior doors were 10 feet tall and the top of the tower was 60 feet tall. The home was a source of pride for Mr. Webber, who lived there until he died on October 15^th 1902. His daughter lived in the home until 1938. The Saginaw school board purchased the mansion and used it for offices until 1958 and then decided the property would be better suited for a parking lot.

A group of citizens formed “the Committee to Save the Webber Mansion” and fought a legal battle over the mansion to try and save it. Four years of legal negotiations and court cases went by but ultimately the decision was made to raze the house and it was demolished in 1962. I find it Ironic that one of the members of the committee to save the house was Attorney Roy DeGesero who’s home on Washington Avenue ( The Cat Lady’s House) is currently owned by the City of Saginaw and is set to be razed soon.

There was also a rumor that $100,000 in jewelry was hidden somewhere in the home by the Webber Family but nothing was ever found during demolition.

I want to thank Tom Trombley at the Castle Museum and the staff at Hoyt Library for their help

Please Note  Facebook has once again changed and is really pushing me to pay to “boost” my posts and limiting what my followers see. It would really help me out if you sign up for email notifications so you know when I post something new, lots of people tell me they like getting my emails and I think you will too. if you don’t like it you can always unsubscribe. 

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I wonder what’s been going on at the ” Cat Lady’s” House lately. I saw some photos posted on Facebook that showed some workers and city officials looking at the house. I have also heard from some people that moving the house was being looked at too. I am also wondering what is happening with the plans for Delta College’s downtown campus, I think they were looking at that location along with the location where the Farmers Market is and there are plans for moving the market  which you can read about the move HERE. Yeah I know, I have lots of questions and no answers, and there probably are no easy answers since it’s fate is probably in the hands of whoever comes up with the money to restore it or tear it down.

I am sure if there is money for use of the property, the city would not hesitate to tear down the house, and I guess I can’t blame them, but I do hope the house would be able to be saved or moved. The house does have a lot of history (you can read about the history HERE) and I still think if it were restored or at least fixed up a little, it would be a nice looking house on Washington Ave. I know good intentions are one thing, but the reality is, it’s money that makes most of the decisions, and I wish I had some lying around to restore this old house, we have lost so many beautiful old homes in Saginaw already.

Update: The city has voted to demolish the house, you can read more at my post HERE

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Another Beautiful Day Here in Saginaw. Yeah I know it’s a little foggy, but it’s also calm and the snow has melted, and it won’t be long and the grass will be green and the trees will have leaves.

I know I don’t say it enough, but thank you for subscribing and following me. I really love posting photos and sharing stories about Saginaw, and it’s even more fun that you are with me too. Thank you to everyone who got shirts and stickers. I don’t make a whole lot of money from them but it helps me with expenses to do this website. I have to admit I get really exited when I see a sticker I made on the back of someones car. I have yet to see someone wearing one of my shirts in Saginaw, but I hope I will someday, that would be awesome.

If you want a shirt or sticker you can get them HERE

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