Joseph Nusbaumer Log Cabin

Joseph Nusbaumer, an immigrant from Switzerland, purchased land in the northeast quarter of Section 4, Pontiac Township (now known as Auburn Hills) from the federal government in 1837. Nusbaumer deeded a half-interest in the property to his brother, John, in 1848. After Joseph Nusbaumer's death in 1859, the property remained in the John Nusbaumer family until 1887, when his heirs sold it. The log cabin is thought to have been built on the property in Section 4 around the time that Joseph Nusbaumer received his federal land patent there.

In 1986, Gertrude P. "Kitty" Davenport owned the former Nusbaumer homestead, and the cabin upon it. With more development coming to the area (which includes the Interstate-75/Joslyn Road interchange today), Davenport decided to move the log cabin to a lot on Auburn Road in downtown Auburn Hills in order to preserve it. The cabin was moved by truck to its new location in July 1986. Davenport's company, Kitini Properties, sold the lot and cabin to the City of Auburn Hills Tax Increment Finance Authority in 2010, and the City of Auburn Hills developed the historic building as a student lounge and workspace known as The DEN (Downtown Education Nook). The DEN opened to students in 2014 and became a co-working space in 2016.

Joseph Nusbaumer's brother, John, had two sons, also named John and Joseph, who operated a grocery business called Nusbaumer & Brother in Pontiac after the Civil War. The brothers dissolved their partnership in 1872, and brother Joseph Nusbaumer carried on the business as a solo proprietor. The senior Nusbaumer brothers who had immigrated from Switzerland are buried in Pontiac's Mount Hope Cemetery. Joseph Nusbaumer died in 1859 and John Nusbaumer died in 1871.

United States Government to Joseph Nuzbaumer [sic], 10 April 1837, west half of the northeast quarter and northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 4, Pontiac Township, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, accession #MI0300.091, certificate #14578.

Joseph Nusbaumer to John Nusbaumer, 3 April 1848, undivided half interest in the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 4, Pontiac Township, Oakland County Record of Deeds, liber 66, p.167.

Joseph Nusbaumer, final administration of estate filed 29 November 1859, case file #1639, Oakland County Record of Probate, liber 29, pp. 90, 128, 135, 176, 276, 325.

John Nusbaumer, by heirs Catherine Nusbaumer, et al., to Walter Tuxworth, 7 February 1887, west half of the northeast quarter of Section 4, Pontiac Township, containing 87 acres more or less, Oakland County Record of Deeds, liber 153, pp.401-402.

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF8L-3VN : 31 July 2020), Joseph Neusbannor [i.e., Nusbaumer] in household of John Neusbannor [i.e. Nusbaumer], Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing family 1446, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

“Log Cabin Moves to the Big City,” Detroit Free Press, July 24, 1986, p.3A.

William K. Davenport for Kitini Properties LLC to Auburn Hills Tax Increment Finance Authority, recorded 15 April 2010, lot 42, Village of Auburn, commonly known as 3388 Auburn Road, Oakland County Record of Deeds, liber 41998, p.682.

Galbraith, M.J. "HIstoric Auburn Hills Log Cabin Now A Co-Working Space With Wireless Internet, Free Coffee," Metromode Metro Detroit, February 11, 2016 [accessed 29 July 2020: https://www.secondwavemedia.com/metromode/devnews/TheDENAuburnHills.aspx ]