Labadie House In Detroit

Labadie House Circa 1910 (Photo Held At LOC)

The Labadie house (still standing), was next above the Schwarz mansion. The Labadies were an old French family, here in Cadillac’s time. Some of their descendants are with us now.

The residence just above was commenced by Territorial Governor George B. Porter, but never finished by him. He was carried off by the cholera, in 1834. The house was of brick and was designed to be the finest in Michigan. It had reached only one story and a half at the time of the governor’s death and there it stopped. It was roofed over in a sort of a way to protect it from the weather and remained in this condition for many years until Colonel Larned took hold of it, put on a substantial roof, without increasing the height of the walls, and thus it is to this day. I remember Governor Porter very well. He was a Pennsylvanian, a fine looking gentleman and well liked here. He was exceedingly horsey and brought with him a fine stud of thoroughbreds. Mrs. Porter was a fine looking woman, but rather stout, whereas the governor was of slight build. [Source]