Navarre–Anderson Trading Post Explained

Navarre–Anderson Trading Post
Coordinates:	41.9347°N -83.4597°W
Location:	3775 North Custer Road Frenchtown Charter Township, Michigan^[1]
Built:	1789
Added:	July 31, 1972
Refnum:	72000645^[2]
Designated Other1:	Michigan State Historic Site
Designated Other1 Date:	June 16, 1972^[3]
Designated Other1 Num Position:	bottom

The Navarre–Anderson Trading Post is a former trading post complex located at 3775 North Custer Road in Frenchtown Charter Township along the River Raisin in Monroe County, Michigan.^{[1] [4]} It was listed as a Michigan Historic Site on June 16, 1972 and also listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 31, 1972.^[2]

The main building on the complex dates back to 1789, and is claimed to be the oldest surviving wooden residential building in the state.^{[1] [5]} However, architectural analyses of the Biddle and McGulpin houses on Mackinac Island indicate they could date back as far as 1780.^{[6] [7]} The Navarre–Anderson complex was established by the early French settlers Francois Marie Navarre dit Utreau and John Anderson, who were among the first to settle the area of present-day Monroe.^[8] In addition to the main building, which also served as a house, the cookhouse building was built in 1810. The original barn is no longer standing, but a 1790s replica was built on the complex.^[1]

The complex was originally located several miles downstream in the present-day Old Village Historic District. When advancing development threatened this historical complex, it was moved in 1894 and again in 1971. The complex was restored back to its appearance from what it looked like 1799. Today, the complex is owned by the Monroe County Historical Museum and is open to the public for special events and group tours.^{[1] [5]}

Notes and References

1. The official address of the Navarre–Anderson Trading Post is 3775 North Custer Road (old state highway M-130), while its address listed on the National Register of Historic Places is "West of Monroe at North Custer (M-130) and Raisinville Roads." M-130 is no longer a designated Michigan highway.

   See, Michigan's Official Travel and Tourism Site (2009). "Navarre–Anderson Trading Post". Retrieved November 16, 2009.

2. Web site: National Register Information System. November 11, 2009. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
3. Web site: State of Michigan. Custer, George Armstrong, Equestrian Monument. 2009. June 26, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120511125451/http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/sites/17698.htm. May 11, 2012.
4. The Navarre–Anderson Trading Post is just outside the city limits of Monroe. It is commonly mentioned as being in Monroe because of its mailing address and since Monroe is its closest city. In actuality, the trading post is in the very far western corner of Frenchtown Charter Township just west of Custer Airport (as seen on the bottom corner of the map linked below) and therefore falls under their jurisdiction. The complex was originally in Monroe before being moved to this location in 1972.

   See, Frenchtown Charter Township (2007). "Frenchtown Master Plan Map". Retrieved November 18, 2009.

5. Web site: Smith. David. Monroe County Michigan Museum: Navarre Anderson Trading Post Complex. 2004–2006. November 18, 2009.
6. Web site: Historic Downtown Mackinac . Mackinac Parks .
7. Web site: Biddle House . MichMarkers .
8. Web site: State of Michigan. Navarre–Anderson Trading Post. 2001–2003. November 12, 2009.