The Stone House History: Preserving a Legacy
Raising Funds to Support the Stone House
The Stone House is a regionally unique structure renowned for its relation to the American poet Theodore Roethke.
Over the decades, the Stone House has survived several dangers, including sitting vacant and attempted demolition. But after a successful fundraising campaign at the end of 2020, the Stone House was finally saved. This was in large part due to the installation of a new roof that helped secure and weatherproof the house. And it happened with the help of donations like yours. But our work isn’t done yet.
Preserving a Legacy and a History
The Stone House structure is of historical importance on several levels. Locally, the house is a window into the Polish and Germanic migrations to Saginaw and Bay City during the late 19th Century, of which Wilhelm “William” Roethke, the Grandfather of Theodore Roethke, was a part. Regionally, the Stone House demonstrates a style of architecture that is Germanic in origin yet unique to Michigan thanks to the boulders and cobbles deposited by glaciers across the Michigan peninsula 13,000 years ago. These “stones” make up the house's ornate facade. Nationally, the Stone House is visited by writers that want to know more about Theodore Roethke, and who want to stand where the inspiration for many of his poems originated during his formative Saginaw years.
And most importantly to the Friends of Roethke Foundation, this home was built and owned by Theodore Roethke’s uncle, Carl in 1904. Theodore Roethke grew up and lived right next door in the Roethke House, which today is fully restored and functions as a museum. The Roethke family’s monumental greenhouse business, operated by the poet's Father and Uncle, spanned 25 acres in the backyards of these homes. The greenhouses inspired Theodore Roethke; they resurfaced decades later in some of his most famous work, often referred to collectively as The Greenhouse Poems.
Read more about the history of the Roethke Houses.
A battle with the elements
During the Stone House's multi-decade vacancy, the house was not without occupants. Raccoons took up residence, and despite our best efforts to keep them out of the house, they continue to return. Not only did they continue to inhabit the Stone House, but the raccoons recently destroyed parts of newly installed infrastructure. In light of this minor setback, the Friends of Theodore Roethke Foundation is launching a fundraiser to prevent further restoration impediments from these furry intruders. Though the house's major issues have been remedied, the raccoons have proven to be cunning opponents.
In spite of these things, the Stone House still triumphantly stands on Gratiot Avenue. Though at times it felt like David sizing up Goliath, the house's two substantial opponents, natural decay and demolition, have been defeated. Restoration efforts continue apace. With this image of David's victory over Goliath in mind, the Friends of Theodore Roethke Foundation are now asking for your help to conquer a much smaller—and furrier—opponent.
Read more about our preservation work.
Building a future
As restoration at the Stone House stretches into its third year, much of the Stone House has been restored, with the bulk of the final work just up ahead.
With your help, crucial repairs to the Stone House’s exterior will be completed to prevent raccoon re-entry.
Soon, the Stone House will be fully restored—becoming a community venue to host poets in residence, annual poetry readings, literary talks, writings workshops, local authors, and the promotion, protection, and preservation of Theodore Roethke's literary legacy for generations to come.
How to help restore the Stone House
The Friends of Theodore Roethke is entirely run by volunteers. All of the funds that have been invested into the Stone House to date have come from individual donations and generous grant awards from our partners in the community.
If the Stone House and its history is important to you, please show your support here.
Thank you for your support as we write the next chapter of the Stone House’s history. Please email us at info@friendsofroethke.org if you have any questions.