Curwood Castle

Curwood Castle
Curwood Castle
Location 224 John St., Owosso, Michigan
Coordinates 42°59′34″N 84°10′31″W / 42.99278°N 84.17528°WCoordinates: 42°59′34″N 84°10′31″W / 42.99278°N 84.17528°W
Area less than one acre
Built 1922
Architectural style French manoir
Governing body Local
NRHP Reference # 71000420[1]
Added to NRHP September 03, 1971

Curwood Castle is a small castle, now a museum, located in Owosso, Michigan. Built in 1922 and completed in 1923, the castle was the dream of author James Oliver Curwood,[2] who used one of the turrets as a writing studio.

Jim Curwood was born in Owosso in 1878. He built this replica of a Norman chateau along the banks of the Shiawassee River near his home in Owosso. The exterior is made of yellow stucco containing fieldstones he chose himself. The roof is slate with copper trim. The structure does not contain any eating or sleeping areas. He used the great room to entertain guests, including movie producers, and the largest turret as his writing studio.

A hunter in his early years, Curwood later became a zealous conservationist, and was appointed to the Michigan Conservation Commission in 1926. He died a year later at age 48. In his will, the castle was given to the City of Owosso. It has served in various capacities over the years and is now a museum operated by the city, and is open to the public.

Each year, the Curwood Festival takes place there to celebrate the life and works of James Oliver Curwood.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.
  2. ↑ http://www.shiawasseehistory.com/owossohistoryindex.html

External links

Media related to Curwood Castle at Wikimedia Commons