Many people think that our historic house has always been at its present location at Dix and Windemere. But from the 1950s until the 1980s the land was occupied by two excavating companies – Diggerman and Stockman. Stockman closed in 1986 and the building was torn down and the land cleared in 1988.

The “Grahl House” was originally built in 1925 on the corner of Eureka and Cochrane. It was built for Fred and Helena Grahl to accommodate their young family. They had a total of six children, ages one to eight at the time, including one-year-old twins. The house was built by William F. Block, Helena’s brother.

The Grahls are one of Ecorse Township and Southgate’s earliest settlers. Fred’s parents, Gustava and Augusta, were from Germany and immigrated to Ecorse Township in the late 1800s. Fred was born in 1894 in Ecorse Township and was the fourth of six sons. Helena was born in 1896 in Trenton. They raised their family and lived in the house for over 50 years.

In the early 1990s Hector Puente, the owner of Mexican Gardens adjacent to the property on Eureka Road, purchased the house for additional parking space. Instead of tearing it down he approached the mayor about the possibility of donating it to the city and having it moved. It was decided that it would move it to its present location and be converted to the Southgate Historical Museum.

It was relocated in 1993, and opened as a museum in 1995.

We are planning to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the building of the house in 2025. The house is in dire need of siding. We are fundraising to be able to replace the siding in time for the celebration. If you would like to donate, message us on our official Facebook page at Southgate Historical Foundation or stop by the first full weekend of each month. We are open noon to 3 p.m. on both days.

We thank you for your support.