The Ford-Bacon Home sits on four city lots which were originally part of a 2,200 acre tract of land

owned by Major John Biddle (a veteran of The War of 1812). In 1854 Biddle sold his estate to

Eber Ward, the founder of the Eureka Iron Company and the Village of Wyandotte.

The four lots then passed through a series of owners before Edward Ford and his wife Carrie

purchased them in 1897. Construction of the house began immediately and the Fords were

able to move into their new home in early 1898.

The Fords lived in the house briefly. The principal residents were Mark Reeves Bacon

(a lawyer and politician) and his wife Mary Ford Bacon. The Biddle Avenue mansion was

their year round address until 1927. After the death of Mark Bacon, Mary Ford Bacon

deeded the house and property in 1942 to the Wyandotte Board of Education to be used

as a public library.

The Ford-Bacon home was designed by the Detroit firm of Malcolmson and Higginbotham.

The final design called for a spacious 62' x 95' building which included 27 rooms and 11 fireplaces.

The Queen Anne style house was to incorporate the most modern conveniences and the

finest construction materials available. Light fixtures were fitted for both gas and electricty.

The home was steam heated and featured a laundry in the basement with a gas heated

clothes dryer.

Light fixture in Front Parlour

Fireplace in Frostic Room on 2nd floor.


The exterior of the house features buff-colored St. Louis hydraulic pressed brick with red

sandstone trim. A wide mosaic tiled porch extended along the west and north sides of the house.

An arched brick carriage port was originally attached to the north side. The house was topped

with a black slate roof which has since been replaced.

The interior featured golden oak and mahogany wood, silver light fixtures and quetzal glass.

A large stained glass window highlights the front staircase.

In 1962 an addition was added to the house to function as the primary library facility.

Self-guided tours may be taken of the Ford-Bacon house Mon.- Sat. from 10am-5pm

Arrangements may be made for interested groups.

Return to:Bacon Library's Wyandotte Community information home page
This project was funded in part with a federal Library Services and Construction Act grant administered by the library of Michigan.
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