As you drive along E. Michigan Avenue in Albion and see the replacement “Old Rugged Cross” State of Michigan historical marker that has been erected near the curb, you might be wondering what used to be in that now-vacant block between the circular College Court.

As you drive along E. Michigan Avenue in Albion and see the replacement “Old Rugged Cross” State of Michigan historical marker that has been erected near the curb, you might be wondering what used to be in that now-vacant block between the circular College Court.

Rev. Andrew Mason Fitch (1815-1877) was a prominent 19th century Methodist clergyman who was actively involved with numerous Michigan educational institutions and churches during his lifetime. He was one of the original organizers of the Albion Union Schools when it was formed in 1867.

Living in Albion, Andrew’s other passion was horticulture. He owned and operated an 80-acre farm which encompassed land from E. Michigan Avenue on the south, Burr Oak St. on the west, Clark St. on the east, and North St. on the north. Andrew used this farm to study soils, fertilizers, and ways to increase yields on the land. Fitch St. was named after him, which was once the family driveway. His farm and house are mapped on the 1858 plat map of Calhoun County.

In the 1860s Andrew erected a replacement farmhouse here at 1101 E. Michigan Avenue. The builder of the house was local contractor George W. Maher (1823-1896), a prominent 19th century Albion builder. One of the workers was long-time Albion carpenter John W. Groff. (1844-1928). The house was designed by Mrs. Fitch, and “was in those days one of the show-places of the community, being the largest farmhouse and having the largest barn in this section,” stated the Albion Recorder on November 23, 1926. It was a large three-story house that contained an elegant three-story front tower, and numerous decorative Victorian-era embellishments on the exterior.

Following the death of Rev. Fitch, the house was sold to Albion College chemistry professor Delos D. Fall (1848-1921) who lived there and rented rooms. One renter was Rev. George Bennard (1873–1958) who wrote “The Old Rugged Cross” here in the kitchen area in late 1912.

After Fall died in 1921, the house subsequently became the home of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity of Albion College in 1922. On Sunday, November 25, 1923, an early-morning fire which began on the third floor on the west side near the attic caused considerable damage to the structure. Fortunately, all the young men living there were able to escape. The house was subsequently reconstructed, but the tower was removed as were other features that were on the original façade. The Delts abandoned the house in 1966 in favor of a new Delt house constructed elsewhere on the Albion College campus, and the old Fitch house was demolished.

From our Historical Notebook this week we present an 1894 photo of the Fitch house with all its embellishments. For your information, Rev. Fitch had a protracted illness in his final years. Upon his death in 1887, the autopsy revealed “the presence of four gallstones, the largest of which weighed 82 grains, thus accounting for the long-continued illness and suffering of the deceased,” stated the Recorder at the time.