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As the family of W.J. Moore; telephone pioneer, inventor, automobile enthusiast, and creator of this house, we are fundraising to help restore and reintroduce the house and its enchanting grounds. For decades it was used to welcome in and entertain the community. Our hopes are that we can continue that legacy and ensure that it will entertain the community once again. Let us share some background information on W.J. and this amazing property. You will find that there is more to it than meets the eye. 

*WHO WAS W.J.?

In our minds he was a legend. An ingenious man ahead of his time, W.J. Moore was our great, as well as great-great-grandfather. He was a man of many talents, but he was first and foremost a telephone pioneer and owner of the Moore Telephone System located in the Thumb of Michigan. He created and grew this company from 1892 until his death in 1955. He left behind a legacy, not only for his family, but for the community as well.

*HOW IT ALL BEGAN

In 1914 W.J. purchased a one-acre parcel in Caro, Michigan, the city where his main office was located. At that time two structures existed within the property; a home and a large carriage house/garage. He was a visionary and had a plan for both structures, as well as the grounds that surrounded them. A renovation of the grounds began first, followed by the renovation of the home and carriage house in 1923. In just under four years, W.J. transformed a simple colonial-style home and carriage house into a Tudor Revival Storybook Style Wonder filled with all kinds of electrical gadgets. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the year that this house and its journey began. W.J. adored his creation and loved sharing it with the community and for decades the house and its uique grounds entertained many. The property remained in the family after W.J.’s passing, but was eventually sold in 1966. Fortunately the new owners were able to continue the tradition and shared the home and its grounds for several more years.

*BACK AT LAST

In 2021 the home serendipitously fell back into the hands of our family and we are beyond excited! We believe that W.J. is smiling down at the procurement. Our plan is to continue the lagacy and restore the property so that it may once again entertain the community.

*THE REALITY

Although the excitement about the property and all of its uniqueness still remains, the reality is that the grounds are extremely overgrown, the plumbing is old, the carriage house ceiling is sagging, the electrical needs updating, the pool and its decking are disintegrating, and the roof is leaking, causing damage. We are overwhelmed, to say the least.

*THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESCUE

This house must be preserved and must continue to be shared with the public. Age, time, and the outside elements are taking a toll on this magical historic house. If critical issues aren’t addressed soon, all of its beauty and uniqueness will become compromised beyond repair. Saving this gem from further deterioration is of vital importance. Our plans for its rescue include first hiring a general contractor to keep projects on track. The funds raised here will help with addressing the roof, plumbing, and electrical. Our goal is to raise $200,000 in order to offset the costs of these projects.

*OUR EFFORTS

We’ve been trying to handle things on our own, making some repairs as needed, but this project is beyond us. We have realized that the funds we have available will not be enough to accomplish repairs to some of the most critical projects. We will continue to raise funds through organized tours and merchandise sales, and have recently been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  We are hoping this will open us up for grant money opportunities, but this is a very long process. Last summer we began promoting an interest in the house through social media and print. We were also fortunate enough to be recently featured on an episode of American Pickers. You can view a YouTube clip of the episode here: (The Wizard’s Castle Season 23 Episode 27 )

*A PLACE OF WONDER

From the early- to mid-20th century, the W.J. Moore House was said to have been the showplace of the Thumb of Michigan. The roof is what first captures the viewer's attention and is anything but ordinary. High-pitched with fanciful details, it is comprised of asphalt shingles cut in a gentle wave fashion which roll at the ridgeline and enclose an internal gutter system. The two-story carriage house garage just to the west echoes the house in design and materials. With its adorable storybook architecture and fairytale surroundings, this house appeals to the inner child of all who pass by, trying to sneak a peek through the thick hedges surrounding the property. While storybook/fairytale style architecture flourished in California in the 1920s, very few of them were built in the Midwest. This house being one, in addition to the ingenious electrical gadgets and the unique grounds that surround it, make it the only one of its kind.

*THE INTERIOR AND ITS ELECTRICAL GADGETS

Most of the interior features of the home are still beautifully preserved, including the unpainted cherry wood paneling, oak wood floors, leaded glass windows & doors, and vintage depression-era tile, not to mention the ingenious electrical innovations. One of the most unique things about the house is that these innovations were created by W.J. himself. Some of these creations included; telephones in every room, automatic doors and lights, and a burglar alarm system that, when triggered, would turn on all the lights on the property and automatically ring the police. With these innovations in the 1920s, we believe the house to be one of the first Smart Homes of the 20th century, decades before the idea of a Smart Home was even a thing! While most of these controls have been disconnected over the years, the master control panel remains, with the detailed typed operational instructions still intact.

*THE COMMUNITY HOT SPOT

While the visual appeal of the house is delightful, the rest of the property has an appeal all its own, and W.J. loved to share it with the community. The large in-ground amusement pool, with its water slide and multiple diving perches, was used to entertain the neighborhood families each summer. If they were lucky, W.J. would allow them a trip across the pool on his airplane-fancied zip-line. The large grassy lawn was used for the Ladies Garden Club gatherings and also contained a tennis court, which could be lit up for night play. The second floor of the carriage house was where W.J. held his private club meetings, community parties & dances, and practices for the local high school basketball team. In June 1950, W.J. even hosted a meeting of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA) at his home. Even after the passing of W.J., the house continued to entertain visitors for many years.

*HOW YOU CAN HELP WITH THE RESCUE

Throughout his lifetime, W.J. embraced the community around him and gave so much to its residents, and its visitors. In honor of W.J., it would only make sense to turn to the community and the public for support in rescuing the house that entertained so many for so long. If only the house could talk, we’re sure it would have many stories to tell. We have hopes that it will once again entertain the community and its visitors, as we believe the house has many more stories yet to be told.

If you feel inspired by this amazing home and its history and would love to be a part of its continued journey, here are some ways you can help with its rescue. This house, its family, its admirers, and the surrounding communities would be forever grateful.