Location
Livonia, MI
Original Construction
1820-40’s
Completion Date
1987 (House); 1992 (Barn)

The historic farmsite known as Greenmead was purchased by the City of Livonia in 1976. It serves as a legacy of Michigan's agricultural heritage as well as a multi-faceted recreational and cultural facility hosting a number of major special events each year. This 95-acre park was the homestead of Michigan pioneer, Joshua Simmons, and includes the original farm complex, Historical Village, picnic facilities, and recreational areas.

The farm complex features an 1841 Greek Revival farmhouse and its outbuildings and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm maintains its unique architectural character and is significant in that nine of its eleven original outbuildings are still intact. Built in 1829, the North Barn was the first barn built in Livonia Township. The Simmons family lived in a modest frame house, while the barn, a building of primary importance, was the first major structure completed. Together, the buildings tell the story of farm life in rural Michigan. In 1920, Sherwin Hill, a prominent Detroit attorney, purchased the farm and raised dairy cattle until his death in 1961.

Greenmead Historical Park is a city-owned property funded primarily by volunteer labor and contributions by local businesses. The Historical Park village was established to protect and preserve several locally significant structures that would have been lost to development at their original locations. There are approximately 12 buildings in the village, which is a recreation of one of the original intersections in the community. When development threatened the last three remaining structures at the crossroads, the city purchased the structures and moved them to their current location.

In a three-phased project, Architects Four (parent company of HopkinsBurns) was involved in the restoration of eight of the structures in the village: Hill House, Hinbern/Cranshaw, Bungalow, Quaker Meeting House, Blue Office, Blue House, Church, and the Greek Revival House. They analyzed each structure and prepared an inventory of work to complete for restoration. Once the scope of the work was established, the firm prepared construction drawings for each structure. Much of the work was subsequently done by volunteer labor or postponed until funding was available.