My City March 2023

MYHISTORY

Castles of Time Greater Flint’s Historic Homes BY PETER HINTERMAN u PHOTOS BY WIKICOMMONS The history of Greater Flint is steeped in

PART 2

Daniel O’ Sullivan House 5035 Flushing Rd., Flushing Built: Circa 1853 Also known as the Halfway House, the O’ Sullivan House was built by one of Genesee County’s first settlers and teachers. In 1834, O’ Sullivan migrat ed to Flint from Ireland and began teaching the children of other notable pioneers at the city’s first established school located on the banks of the Flint River. Within a few years, he moved on from the teaching profession and opened a goods store on Saginaw St. Soon after, O’ Sullivan approached Bishop Leferve to build a church in Flint. In 1848, the church was finished

and became St. Michael Roman Catholic Parish and later, St. Michael Catholic Church. In 1853, O’ Sullivan purchased a plot of land and built the Halfway House (named because it sat halfway between Flint and Flushing). He operated it as a stagecoach shop and inn until 1858 when the home was sold to the Ponsford Family from England. At the age of 80, O’ Sullivan relocated for a brief time to visit his son’s claim in the Dakota Territory, and then moved back to live with his son in Muskegon, MI. He died there in 1881. Daniel O’ Sullivan Model School in Flint was named in his honor. After 1858, the Halfway House was operated by the Ponsfords and to date remains in the hands of the family.

relevance. We have seen titans of industry, great inventors, triumphs of commerce, heroes, villains, failure and renewal, and through it all stood our castles of time – the historic homes of Greater Flint. If walls could talk, the area’s oldest homes would give us nearly the full story, from the be ginnings of our beloved cities and towns to today, including all the glory and heartache in between. That these homes continue to stand is a testament to our love of tradition and acknowledgment of our past. Here’s a look at five of Flint’s historic homes and how they came to be.

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