Historic Fiske House property for sale

COLDWATER — Phillip Jewell put the historic Fiske House at 867 E. Chicago with its five acres on the market Thursday for $1.65 million.

Farmington Realtor Andrew Goble said, "Whether the house is going to stay or not, we don't know."

Elizabeth Jewell bought the property in 1961. Her sons inherited it in 2000 following her death.

Jewell and his wife Catherine bought the interest of his brother David and his wife in 2007.

The Jewells began a long fight with the city of Coldwater. "My whole goal was to save the house and property," Jewell said.

Jewell claimed the city "basically did as much as they could to make it so we couldn't make it. They increased our taxes so high that it was ridiculous. Nobody in the city cared whether we were there or not."

The city, at the time of the assessment appeals, said it was bound by Department of Treasury regulations.

The property was zoned C-4 commercial and taxed as commercial and unable to receive a tax break as a historic property.

Jewell created Blue Hat Coffee in 2011 when the planning commission allowed for a 733-square-foot addition on the back of the house and a new separate, 1,560-square-foot building where Jewell still roasts green coffee beans.   

The Coldwater Blue Hat Coffee House opened in 2014 and struggled until it closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related story Historic home preserved

The Jewells received a 50% homestead exemption for the house. The city assessed the property as commercial. Jewell sought a reduction because 70% of the lot was woodland but lost.

"Our taxes went from $3,500 to one point over $20,000," he said. He paid $18,298 in 2017 and 2018. As they increased for 2019, he applied for a demolition permit for the historic home. The permit was denied.

Jewell said the taxes were more than 10% of the coffee house's gross revenues.

Jewell graduated from Coldwater High School. When he returned after 2000, "I felt we were considered outsiders," he said.

The Jewells decided to branch out with a second store, and in November 2019, they took possession of the historic 1876 Masonic Temple in downtown Farmington.

When the COVID-19 pandemic closed restaurant businesses in 2020, the Jewells put all their effort toward Farmington and opened in November 2023.

The new location is larger at more than 3,500 square feet in a vibrant downtown.

The summer Farmer's Market draws 6,000 per week. A yearly summer three-day art festival brings together more than 40,000 people.

Jewell still drives to Coldwater to roast the imported coffee he serves until he sells and can move the roaster to Farmington.

The pastries and breads he learned to bake in Coldwater are now on the menu in Farmington. The Blue Hat sign once outside the Coldwater store is there.

Subscribe Follow this story. Subscribe to the Daily Reporter.

"We're open here, and whatever happens happens," Jewell said. "It's basically up to the city. A National Historic site doesn't mean anything unless the city cares."

Horse breeder Abram C. Fiske used profits from the Civil War to start his two-story, red brick Italianate structure in 1861. He completed the home in 1863.

-- Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Historic Fiske House property for sale