U.S. Arsenal
21950 Michigan Avenue
Dearborn, Michigan
Wayne County 1860
In 1832 a Federal decision was made to move the Detroit Arsenal away from a growning Detroit (Population of 10,000 to 15,000) to early Dearbornville. After several years of construction, beginning in 1833, the new Arsenal was completed in 1837--the same year Michigan became a state. The Federal Arsenal Grounds originally covered 1,652 acres in Dearborn.
Eleven Arsenal buildings were clustered for the garrison within 12-foot-high brick walls surrounding a square of 360 feet on all sides in the heart of what is now the bustling downtown business district of West Dearborn. Of these buildings, two remain in use for the Museum's Historical Displays:
The Commandant's Quarters at Michigan and Monroe and the McFadden-Ross House: Originally the Arsenal Powder Magazine, on Brady Street.
The Arsenal created the first boom in Dearborn's emergence as a sizable community. The Commandant's Quarters was the home of the nineteen commandants who lived here until the Arsenal closed in 1875. The home was opened to the public as the City of Dearborn's first Historical Museum building in 1950.

Below are the Residents of the US Arsenal in 1860. There may be a few spelling errors in surnames due to transcribing census taker's hand writing.

Last Name	First Name	Age	Occupation/Relationship	Birth Place
Abelle	James S.	64	US Military Store Keeper	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Abelle	Mary P.	54	Wife	New York
Abelle	John N.	31	Son	New York
Forte	Isabella	27	Not Given	New York
Abelle	Augusta	20	Daughter	New York
Kittleton	Ann	17	Servant	Michigan
Hagerty	Lucinda	18	Servant	Michigan
Cosby	John	38	Clerk	Ireland
Cosby	Mary	22	Wife	Michigan
Cosby	Robert	6	Son	Michigan
Cosby	James	3	Son	Michigan
Cosby	Grace	1	Daughter	Michgian
Cook	Eliza	17	School Teacher	Scotland
Lyon	John	23	Ordinance Man	Ireland
Lyon	Margaret	22	Wife	Ireland
Lyon	Mary	3	Daughter	Michigan
Lyon	Bridget	6 mths	Daughter	Michigan
Quintan	John	15	Servant	Ireland
McHerney	Jeremiah	24	Servant	Ireland
Meer	John	32	Ordinance Man	Ireland
Meer	Catherine	28	Wife	New York
Meer	Michael	5	Son	Michigan
Meer	Thomas	3	Son	Michigan
Meer	John M.	1	Son	Michigan
Lyon	Cornelius	27	Ordinance Man	Ireland
Lyon	Betsey	23	Wife	Michigan
Lyon	David	6 mths	Son	Michigan
McMean	John	32	Ordinance Man	Ireland
McMean	Mary	22	Wife	Ireland
McMean	Jane	70	Mother	Ireland

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