The Salling Home

Ernest Salling, a native of Denmark, arrived in the United States in 1862 and found his way to Manistee. He worked for lumberman Michael Engelmann before going out on his own, eventually owning several sawmills and pine lands. While the Salling Home was built in 1874/1875, it underwent several changes between 1880 and 1899. In the final remodeling, the Victorian gingerbread was all removed, the home was made two stories throughout and an elegant entry was added along with a wrap-around porch. The home was considered unusual because of the extreme length with six rooms in a row on the main floor. These included, in order, a library, living room, the original entry hall, a dining room, a butler's pantry, the kitchen and an additional large room off the hall. The second floor included five bedrooms and two bathrooms. An unusually large master bedroom had served as an upstairs library and a game room in the past. Among the most unique features found throughout the home is the beautiful hardwood flooring. A border, at the perimeter of each room, is made up of inlaid hardwoods, including cherry, maple, walnut, and oak. Salling passed away in 1909 and his family continued to reside in the house until 1916.