The Biggby Coffee Carriage House
124 East Michigan Ave, Clinton MI
Built by Dr. Albert F. Tuttle circa 1871
The view on Michigan Avenue in downtown Clinton is made richer by the presence of this beautiful 1870’s era carriage house currently owned by Jaremy and Maureen Jesse.
Dr. Albert Tuttle, and his wife, Laura, made their home on the spot where Biggby Coffee is today. The carriage house next to Biggby’s was home to Dr. Tuttle’s “handsome buggy and 2 beautiful, spirited, white horses”. In the mid 1800’s, horse and buggy house calls were critical to the success of a doctor and his patients. Dr. Tuttle was a highly regarded member of the community and was related to Moses Cleveland (founder of Cleveland Ohio) and to President Grover Cleveland. One of the properties 5 original hitching posts is still in place.
This 3 story, Gable shaped roof, timber framed classic structure is much the same as it was when originally built. It features hand hewn posts; beams and braces joined by mortise and tenon joints, strengthened with wooden pegs. A field stone foundation is built into a bank. This bank allows walk in access to the main floor in the front and into the basement in the rear. Battened wood siding, cathedral style windows and a distinctive 4 sided cupola add style to this village treasure.
Date of Interview: 9/8/2022
Interviewer: Mark and Susie Jenkins
Interviewee: Jaremy and Maureen Jesse – Owner’s Biggby Coffee
1.) Researched Ownership Record – Lot 31
2020 In January, Biggby Coffee, Clinton opens for business.
2019 In August, The Jesse’s purchased the property.
1993 The property was purchased from United Bank and Trust by Jeffrey J. Fahey and Jeffrey T. Knasiak and became a Dairy Queen.
1976 The Clinton Branch of the First Federal Savings of Lenawee opened for business on May 24.
1975 The property was purchased from a Detroit owner. The house was torn down and the First Federal Savings of Lenawee, (main offices in Adrian), was built. The bank later became the Dairy Queen and then Biggby Coffee.
1957 C. Riggio
1924 W.A. Case – died in 1929.
1915 W.A. Case – bought property from Laura Clark (estate maybe?)
1915 Laura L. Clark – lived at home until she died in 1915 at age 87.
1882 Dr. Albert F. Tuttle – don’t know when he purchased this property.
1872 House and Carriage House shown on the lot. So the carriage house was built between 1870 and 1872.
1870 Only the house is shown on the lot.
2.) The Purpose of Carriage Houses
- Michigan in the early 1900’s was a horse driven world. Carriage houses were built in towns in order to stable horses, store wagons, tack, and other transportation accessories, as well as hay and other feeds.
- Once the automobile era began, some existing carriage houses were repurposed to house autos.
- Carriage houses were eventually replaced by attached garages for cars. They were more conveniently located and heated – better for the people and for the cars. The word garage is derived from the French word garer which means “to store”.
3.) Features of the Historic Carriage House
- Originally there were 5 hitching stones on the property. One currently remains.
- Tuttle’s handsome buggy was drawn by 2 beautiful white spirited horses.
- Stand-alone structure with 3 floors, basement for horses, main floor for carriages and equipment, and top floor for hay storage.
- North facing front wall.
- Gable roof shape.
- Vertical wood siding with battens. Painted all white.
- Beautiful, ornate window design. Distinctive 4 sided cupola.
- Hand hewn timbers with mortise and tenon joints fastened with wooden pegs. Very sturdy, classic structure components. The main floor is clear of inside posts.
- Field stone foundation is raised by a hill. On the north, walk in access is to the main floor while on the south it is into the basement.
- Asphalt shingles.
- 3 bays are evident by the existence of inside posts in the top floor and basement.
- Wood floors on the 2 upper levels, concrete in the basement.
- There is no hay trolley or tracks.
4.) Personal / Family Information
- Albert F. Tuttle (b 1827 – d 1884). Born in Niagara Falls, New York. Albert’s father was William J. Tuttle and his mother was Mary A. Cleveland. Albert was related to Moses Cleveland who founded Cleveland Ohio. Was also related to President Grover Cleveland. Dr. Tuttle located to Clinton in 1851. He married Laura L. Clark (b 1828 – d 1915) who was the daughter of John Clark and Sarah Stockwell who were early settlers in Clinton. The Clark’s had been neighbors of Dr. Tuttle’s parents in Vermont. Dr. and Mrs. Tuttle had 3 children, all of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Tuttle assisted her husband in his practice.