From the 1940s through the 1980s, Veyirl and Dewey Wittkop lived at 573 E. Main St in Dundee, Michigan. Veyirl (Getty) Wittkop was the aunt of Mildred (Roggerman) Heiden. Lena (Oliver, Getty) Monk, Mildred's grandmother also lived there until her death in 1966. Veyirl and Dewey's three sons, John, Alan and Fred and daughter, Joan, also lived here before they were married.

Veyirl and Dewey were very nice people. Veyirl and my mother, were always close and enjoyed each other's company. Although the recent picture above does not reflect conditions in the 1950s when I visited, Dewey was known for his gardening. Perhaps that is where I got my interest in landscape plants that led to a career as a horticulturist.

"The original owner was Nathaniel Graves, M.D. There are ten rooms and storage room, six rooms down and four upstairs. The house has all double brick walls, thus making it cool and comfortable in the summer. At the turn of the century there was a Victorian-type porch across the entire front of the house. This was allowed to fall into disrepair.

When the present owners, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Wittkop purchased it in January, 1946, they had a challenge. Over the years they have tried to keep the house as it originally was. The upstairs dormers are most attractive; the curved lintels up above the windows are an architectural feature found only in Monroe County. The date plate, July 1875, is embedded in the main gable. There are several brick homes on this section of the street that are of the same age."