Historic Detroit log cabin house from 1830s is for sale

DETROIT (FOX 2) - It is a hidden piece of history in Detroit and soon it could be yours.

A 500-square foot historical house on Clements Street on the west side is one of the oldest in the city - and it's a real log cabin.

"It was built by hand by James Smith who was a farmer who farmed the land in this area back when this wasn't even part of the City of Detroit," said Alyssa Strickland with the Detroit Land Bank Authority.

According to published historical records, James Smith's butter won a prize at the 1854 state fair.

The historic plaque says the house was built between 1820 and 1850. 

"It needs a little work, it needs to be rehabbed, it needs to be brought back to life," Strickland said. "But this house has been standing here since the 1830s; how could it not need a little work?"

And the house is for sale, listed at $29,900. The buyer will also get a duplex property next door as well.

"If you were a community group or someone who wanted to do an educational piece with this property you could run all of those kind of activities out of the duplex and then use this great, historical landmark as your learning space, as a community gathering space."

The house was lost in a tax foreclosure, then went to the Land Bank, which wants to sell it.

If you're interested in buying the Log Cabin and the duplex-both of these houses for $29,900 contact the Land Bank or the real estate agent, James Bufalino at 313-806-1303.