Walking Tour-35 Buffalo Street-Walking Tour
(East Side of Street)

Early tax records seem to indicate that there probably was a building on this lot by 1855, owner James Bartlett. However it certainly didn't look like the house standing today. If the first building had a style it was probably Greek Revival, like many of the buildings then in the neighborhood. Architecturally this house has some Gothic Revival style details, particularly the pointed arch window with matching shutters in the east facade gable, see photo below. The detail of the porches, see photo right, may be either Gothic Revival or Queen Anne. The building has late Victorian proportions. The original wood clapboard is covered with aluminum siding.

Bartlett owned the property until 1864 when it became the home of Francis J. Walter, a carpenter/cabinetmaker with a shop on Main St., east side, north of Washington St. In 1872, 35 Buffalo became William Van Buskirk Vliet's property. The house was constructed in stages over the next 50 years. The footprint of the house in 1872 , the first floor of which was much as it is today, may be seen on the map of that year. Part of the second story was probably added in 1879. This corresponds with the jump in tax assessment value from $350, in 1878, to $1,200, in 1880. Owner then, Wm. V. B. ("B. V."in the tax records) was an undertaker, carpenter and furniture maker/dealer. (He not only bought Francis J. Walter's house but his cabinet shop on Lots 6 & 9 Block 19, N. Main St.). The east section of the second story and the eastern most section of the first story were also additions to the original building (exterior wood clapboard was found on the west interior walls).

Judge John Morley, and wife, Lillian owned the house before the present owner. Morley's mother, Juliet, bought the house at the turn of the century. As Judge, Morley had an office on the first floor, now the master bedroom. He collected clocks with which he lined the office walls. There was a holding cell on the second floor, equipped with bars. Prisoners were kept there until they could be transferred to the Oakland County Jail in Pontiac. As Justice of the Peace Morley also performed marriages in the house.

Official Property Description:

• Lot 2 Block 7 of Nelson W. Clark's Original Plat of the Village in the Southeast 1/4 of Section 20 in Independence Township.
• Lot 27 of the Assessor's Plat.

Significant Property History:

[A Synopsis Of Property Transfers Derived From Abstracts
(when available) And Periodic Changes In Ownership Or
Assessed Value Derived From Township Tax Records]

• 1831 United States to Butler Holcomb.
• 1833 Butler Holcomb & wife, Mary, To Roswell/Roosevelt Holcomb, the west 1/2 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 20.
• 1833 Butler Holcomb & wife, Mary, To Roswell/Roosevelt Holcomb, and wife, Elvine Holcomb, and Daniel B. Holcomb and wife, Alimira, to Jeremiah Clark, the south part of the west 1/2 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 20.
• 1839 Jeremiah Clark to Nelson Washington Clark, the undivided 1/2 of the west 1/2 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 20 commencing.......
• 1842 Jeremiah Clark & wife, Polly, to Nelson W. Clark, the south part of the west 1/2 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 20. Also other land.
• 1842 Jeremiah Clark & Nelson W. Clark to Village of Clarkston (Original plat of the Village).
• 1844 Nelson W. Clark, Lot 2 Block 7, assessed value $5.
• 1846 Jeremiah Clark, the west 1/2 of Block 7, assessed value $7.
• 1847 James Bartlett, assessed value $50.
• 1848 James Barlett, Lot 2 Block 7, assessed value $85.
• 1849 James Barlett, Lot 2 Block 7, assessed value $78.
• 1850 James Bartlett, as above, assessed value $90.
• 1855 James Bartlett, as above, assessed value $300.
• 1861 James Bartlett, as above, assessed value $400.
• 1863 James Bartlett, Lots 2 & 6 Block 7.
• 1864 Francis Walter, as above.
• 1870 Francis Walter, as above, assessed value $350 (and a piece on Lot 6 and Lot 9 Block 19, a cabinet shop).
• 1872 Map of the Village has a building footprint, owner William V. B. Vliet, assessed value $350.
• 1880 William Van Buskirk Vliet, as above, assessed value $1200.
• 1881 B. F. Elwood, as above, assessed value $1200.
• 1882 C. M. Smith Lot 2 Block 7 (info from the abstract for an E. Church Street property).
• 1883 C. M. Smith (wife, Joesphine Vliet), assessed value $1200. ( and 62'x27' on Block 19.)
• 1892 C. M. Smith, assessed value $1400.
• 1897 Juliet, (Mrs. W. A.), Morley, assessed value $1000.
• 1917 as above, assessed value $1400.
• 1920 as above, assessed value $2000.
• 1926 Mrs. W. A. Morley, (Highland Pk.), assessed value $2000.
• 1933 Mrs. W. A. Morley, Estate, Lot 2 Block 7, assessed value $1600.
• 1949 John Morley died.
• 1954 Mrs. Lillian Morley.