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“Absalom [Fried] built the first house where Mrs. Gulens lives. It was moved by J.K. Goetz to the south end on the hill across the creek.”

extracted from “Friedsburg-Dashwood 1860-1985” by Mary (Patterson) Rader, 1985; pg. 4, ISBN 0-9692115-0-3

(below) North is up on this map. According to the H. Belden & Co., 1879 Historical Atlas of Huron County; apart from a minimal amount of development facing onto Dashwood Road (Main Street), during this time, the entire southeast corner of where the village would eventually stand, consists of open farmland situated on the “Whiting Est.” (estate) property. The Whiting farm itself appears to have only a single building on it, presumably a house. Although this is speculative on my part, it seems reasonable to me, that given the early date of the map (1879), the frame construction and apparent age of the home pictured above and Mary Rader’s suggestion that a house had been transported to a site in “the south end on the hill across the creek”, that there is at least a possibility that the house being discussed is in fact the one pictured above. If so, this home; constructed by Absalom Fried, is perhaps the oldest house in the community, although not in its original location. I welcome comments on this speculation. As an aside, it’s interesting to take note on this map of the extent of Noah Fried’s land holdings during this period to the west, immediately across Centre Street from the Whiting farm.

Source: H. Belden & Co., 1879 Historical Atlas of Huron County