The Snow House built as a small house on Franklin Road, was purchased in 1883, by a well-known immigrant to the Territory,  Alonzo Snow.  The son of Scottish immigrant parents was born in Massachusetts in 1811, and moved to Michigan shortly after it became a State.  He settled in Birmingham, Michigan, and married his business partner's daughter, Sara Hunter.  John Hunter met the young Alonzo Snow when he first came to Birmingham, and together they built many businesses including mercantile, lumber, taverns and inns.

Alonzo and Sara had five children, one who died at birth.  Raising four youngsters on their 40 acre farm near Franklin, meant they were very familiar with the village, perhaps buying their dry goods, meats and fabrics from the shops that lined Franklin Road.  Sara, who died early, is buried alongside Alonzo and three of their children in the old Birmingham Cemetery, in Birmingham, Michigan.

A few years after Sara's death, Alonzo Snow married a much younger pioneer woman from Kentucky, named  Janette.  She was twenty-seven years his junior, and they lived on the farm until it was sold or transferred in 1883.  They  moved just a few miles away to the Village of Franklin, which was most familiar to the aging Alonzo, and took up residence at what would later become known as the Snow House.  They added on a small addition to this home, drilled a new well on the south side of the home, adding highly regarded Victorian features and several rooms.  Research indicates the front door of this home, originally built on the north wall, was changed by adding a small, covered porch on the east wall creating a more formal entry into this now larger home. A formal parlor, with french doors, was created by adding a foyer as well as a kitchen and small bedroom off of the kitchen, most probably for a man-servant and his wife which were listed as employed by the Snow's in 1880.

Unfortunately, after months of work on the house, Alonzo Snow died, barely living in the home for a year.  His wife, Janette, remained in the home most probably until her death, although no record of where she died, or where she is buried, has been found.

Years later, in 1949, the Fay Family moved to this home, where the second and final addition was added.  Under the watchful eye of Mr. Fay, a careful and well constructed family room, breakfast room, and bathroom were added supported by a shed-style roof on the west side of the home.  A small one-car garage, which dates back to 1908, was remodeled, and a small addition with a shed-style roof was added to the west wall.  This addition to the garage most likely allowed entry to the garage from both Franklin Road and Wellington.

Today the home is a lasting  tribute to the people of yesteryear, and to all those who came before us.  Beautiful, historic homes in Franklin, like the Snow House and the Van Every House, are a constant reminder of the rough and ready pioneers who came to the Territory seeking a better life for their families, and built homes and businesses to last for future generations. We salute those pioneers and honor their past, which as we all know is very much a part of our future.

Today, the Snow House is used by the residents of Franklin for private afternoon teas.  The Snow House is open to the public at various times during the year for tours.  For information regarding the Snow House,  please contact Kathi Russell at the Franklin Village Tea Room by calling (248) 538-4300.

We hope to see you on your next visit to Franklin!