Burnham House

Photo of Burnham House, October 3, 2024, by Andrew Spilotro.

One Timeless Home

by Andrew Spilotro

Every day students at the University of Michigan and other nature lovers walk through the Nichols Arboretum to enjoy the stunning scenery of the forest along the Huron River. As you enter the area, you’ll pass the Burnham House, which seems oddly out of place (and for good reason, as you will learn). As it turns out, this well-preserved example of Greek revival architecture is the oldest building at the University of Michigan, one filled with a rich history of protests, passion, and preservation.

At almost two centuries old, the house has survived many owners, functions, and even a move across the Huron River. Built by Nathan Burnham in 1837 at 947 Wall Street in what was known as “Lower Town," the building has functioned as a single family home, apartments, even doctors offices (Covitt 18).

Photo of Burnham House in 1968 at its original location. Photo courtesy Mark Hildebrant, published in Nichols Arboretum report (Covitt 15).

James & Helene Reader display portrait of their son James Reader Jr., October 1997. Photo by William Jordan, courtesy Ann Arbor News.

The house stayed at its Wall Street location (although the address changed to 940 Maiden Ln in 1969) until the mid-1990s, when the UM intended to buy the building and tear it down to make room for a parking lot. This proposal sparked significant controversy (Niyo). Locals rallied against the demolition of the house and suggested relocating it instead. With the cost of relocation estimated to be roughly $480,000, the University agreed to preserve the home on the condition that the community raised the necessary funds (Mitchell). Ultimately, enough money was raised, largely thanks to a donation made from James and Helene Reader in memory of their son who had tragically died in a car crash in 1979 (Rzepka). UM subsequently named the James D. Reader Jr. Urban Environmental Education Center, which is housed inside the Burnham House, in his honor. On February 3, 1989, the house was moved to its current location near Nichols Arboretum entrance on Washington Heights (“Burnham House”).

While everyone who's been to the Arb has likely noticed the building, most are likely unaware of the building's namesake. Named after Nathan Burnham, an Ann Arbor resident about whom there is little known today, the house lacks a significant namesake. However, when considering the definition of the last name Burnham, “burna” meaning stream, and “ham” meaning homestead (“Last Name”), its namesake ironically suits its new location. Situated near the Huron River, this historic homestead greets visitors to the Arboretum with its enduring charm and welcoming aura.

Photo of Burnham House Relocation by Larry E. Wright (1998). Photo courtesy Ann Arbor News.

Works Cited

"Burnham House." University of Michigan LSA, https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/greek-annarbor/2017/02/17/burnham-house/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Covitt, Beth. A Situated History of the Nathan Burnham House. Nichols Arboretum, June 2001, https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=ff450f0d7f93f672094edfda8c4abf32c3c3ea9c. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Hildbrant, Mark. “Illustration 9: House in 1968.” A Situated History of the Nathan Burnham House, page 15. Beth Covitt, Nichols Arboretum, June 2001, https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/documentrepid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=ff450f0d7f93f672094edfda8c4abf32c3c3ea9c. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Jordan, William. James & Helene Reader display portrait of their son James Reader Jr., October 21, 1997. Ann Arbor News. Retrieved from Ann Arbor District Library Archives. https://aadl.org/BN136_210_001 Accessed 26 Oct. 2024.

“Last Name: Burnham.” The Internet Surname Database, https://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Burnham. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Rezpka, Marianne. "Historic house to be moved to U-M arboretum." Ann Arbor News. Retrieved from Ann Arbor District Library Archives. Accessed 26 Oct. 2024.

Mitchell, Katherine. "This really old house." The Michigan Daily, 19 Feb 2007, michigandaily.com/uncategorized/really-old-house/ Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

Niyo, John. “Historic Burnham House Needs a Home.” Ann Arbor News, 25 June 1995, https://aadl.org/aa_news_19950626-historic_burnham_house_needs_a_home. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Spilotro, Andrew. Photograph of Burnham House. 3 October 2024. Author’s personal collection.

Wright, Larry E. "Workers Prepare The Nathan Burnham House For Its Move, February 1998." 3 Feb. 1998, Ann Arbor News. Retrieved from Ann Arbor District Library Archives, https://aadl.org/BN143_19980203_burnham_003. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

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