Sue Silliman House Museum

	Sue Silliman House Museum - Quick Facts
HSP Category	Building
Period	1870s
HSP Style	Early Colonial
Builder	Arthur Silliman
Construction	Brick
No. Stories	3
Original Use	Home & Business
Present Use	Museum

Historical Significance:

This brick structure was built in the 1870’s by Arthur Silliman, an early pioneer to the area, who came to Three Rivers in 1847. Near this site a Pottawatomie Indian trail crossed the St. Joseph. The confluence of the St. Joseph, Portage, and Rocky rivers at this site gave Three Rivers its name. Arthur Silliman deeded this property, named “Riversbye” to his daughter Sue in 1914. Sue Silliman was the Three Rivers librarian and historian for forty-two years. During that time she also served on national, state, and local boards of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Before she died in 1945, she left to the people of the area her papers, the books she wrote including St. Joseph In Homespun, her home, and the memory of a life dedicated to the public service.

Acknowledgements: The Abiel-Fellows Chapter, NSDAR owns, operates, and maintains this museum and gives regularly scheduled docent led tours.

Form Submitted By: Abiel-Fellows Chapter, NSDAR 12/27/2009

Designations:

National Register of Historical Places
State Historical Commission
City Landmark

Historic Marker:

Marker Organization: Michigan State Historical Commission
Marker Date: 1976
Marker Text: This brick structure was built in the 1870's by Arthur Silliman, an early pioneer to the area, who came to Three Rivers in 1847. The lower level of the building served as Silliman's blacksmith shop and the upper stories served his family. Near this site a Potawatomi Indian trail crossed the St. Joseph. The confluence of the St. Joseph, Portage and Rocky rivers at this site gave Three Rivers its name. Arthur Silliman deeded this property, named "Riversby" to his daughter Sue in 1914. Sue Silliman was Three Rivers librarian and historian for forty-two years. During that time she also served on national, state, and local boards of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Before she died in 1945, she left to the people of the area her papers, the books she wrote including St. Joseph In Homespun, her home, and the memory of a life dedicated to the public service.

Funded By:

This property is funded by donations, grants, and friends of the museum.

Information for the Visitors:

What you need to know if interested in visiting this destination:

Condition of Property: Preserve
Open to the Public? Yes
Public Fee: None
Public Hours: Summer, June through September 12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Is it Family Friendly? Yes
Lodging? No
Brochure available? Yes
Catalog available? No
DVD available? No

Select a State to Explore our Historic Properties

Units Overseas

Directions and application forms can be found on this page or in the Forms section of the DAR members' website.

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