Original Calkins residence, very early settler of Porter Township. US 12 out front but during horse and wagon days ran up behind house at top. 5 Star Life/Camp Bellowood drive way located at far left and top of photo.

We own the Thomas and Henrietta Calkins Property which has the old home plus outbuildings on three acres The mobile homes are rentals on our property set up as an income for my husband's mother and stepfather over 35 plus Years ago They started willow Shores on Baldwin lake on land original to farm They sold it after owning for several years The bear on the hill landmark for camp We are remodeling old farmhouse from a two part rental restoring to single family dwelling The house originally sat in the center of us 12 and was moved back and sat on new basement foundation in 1949 so highway hill could be cut down and road straighten I was told 4 more homes were moved at this time I believe home built early 1860s The Calkins did divorce by 1870 Henrietta bought her farm back at auction held at Cass courthouse Its recorded in our title She paid around $496 for it all She did not remarry was a fruit farmer 60 apple trees plus raising several children She d
Was ahead of her time owner of this farm plus working the orchards She is recorded on the farm agricultural registers

Correction to my first comments on the Date of construction Land purchased 1852 the Calkins married in 1845 and 1850 census has them living at Calkins parents home on Baldwin Prairie road There were at least 3 saw mills within 3 miles at that time so I believe that was the start date of construction land clearing was 1852 I had the date of Henrietta Calkins buying At sheriffs auction in Cassopolis MI wrong it was recorded March 5th 1862. As to whether there was a divorce ? Thomas went off to the war returned lived around here Carter Lake road till 1872?