Dr. Benjamin C. H. Spencer House

This Craftsman-style dwelling was built in late 1922 and early 1923 for Dr. Benjamin C. H. Spencer, a well-known local physician who was at the time the president of the village council of Rochester. The house exhibits many features that are typical of the Arts & Crafts Movement, including wide, overhanging eaves supported by brackets, a covered porch supported by square pillars extending into a porte-cochère, and extensive use of woodwork throughout the interior. From 2007-2024, the building was a location of the School of Rock.

This house was built in late 1922 and early 1923 for Dr. Benjamin "B.C.H." Spencer and his family. Spencer purchased the lot in August 1922 from Mary J. Dillman. The Rochester Era reported on March 9, 1923 that: "Dr. Spencer and family now occupy their beautiful new home on Walnut street."

Dr. Spencer was born in Oakland County in 1859, the son of pioneers John H. and Laura (Riggs) Spencer. He attended high school in Rochester and earned a medical degree from the Detroit College of Medicine in 1881, then took additional training in Chicago. He practiced for a time in Lake Orion, Arkansas, and California before bringing his medical practice to Rochester in 1896, where he remained until his death in 1945. Spencer was also active in civic affairs and served on the Rochester Board of Education. He was also elected to four terms as president of the Village of Rochester, as follows: 1908-11, 1917-20, 1922-24, and 1926. He was president of the village at the time this house was built.

During the 1970s, many of the former residences on Walnut Street were converted to boutique business and factory outlet locations. In the 1970s, this house was the location of Pots 'N' Pans, Country Cousin Coins & Antiques, and Hunter's Gift Shop, among others. In the mid-1980s it was the location of Mar Mill Linen, the Upper Clash Gallery, and A Round Tuit. In 1985, it was the home of a custom toy shop called RM Designs.

In late 2007, the first Michigan branch of the Paul Green School of Rock Music (now known as the School of Rock) opened in the former Spencer house, offering individual music lessons and jam sessions to prepare students for live music performance. The School of Rock closed its Rochester location in 2024.

Mary J. Dillman to B. C. H. Spencer, August 3, 1922, lot 96, Original Plat of the Village of Rochester, Oakland County Record of Deeds, liber 317, page 326.

"Dr. Spencer and family now occupy their beautiful new home...," Rochester Era, March 9, 1923, p.5.

Seeley, Thaddeus De Witt. History of Oakland County Michigan: a Narrative Account of Its Historic Progress, Its People, Its Principal Interests. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912, p.509.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Oakland County, Michigan. Chicago : Chapman Bros., 1891, p.581.

"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K4GB-9W3 : accessed 24 Jul 2014), B C H Spencer, Rochester, Avon Township, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 63-4, sheet 10A, family 233, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 1798.

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XQ1V-L4S : accessed 24 Jul 2014), B C H Spencer, Rochester, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0004, sheet 17B, family 428, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1016.

"Last of Village Pioneer Doctors Taken by Death," Rochester Clarion, August 30, 1945.

Okrutsky, Louise. "Carving Out a Second Career in a Toy Shop," Rochester Eccentric, August 5, 1985, p.3B.

Smith, Katharine P. "Rochester is Where the Rock Rolls," Detroit Free Press, January 6, 2008.