Faculty Row № 9, 217 Beech St. (1884)

Faculty Row Number Nine, November 2003. Photo Credit: Kevin S. Forsyth.

The community that is now East Lansing began on the campus of M.A.C., in its “Faculty Row.” Faculty Row № 9, built in 1884, was the home of the Professor of Horticulture. Of the ten houses in the Row, only two remain: Number 7 (in its original location but much modified as Cowles House, the President’s residence) and Number 9 (since moved to Beech Street, likely prior to 1924). Though its form is much the same, including a distinctive triangular dormer above the front porch, the wood siding is not original: photographs taken on campus show № 9 to have a brick façade.