Week 6 2026 - Favorite Photo - Sheridan Poultry Hall

I have in my possession a picture that speaks volumes to me. It is a two-generational photo. It shows a family that was hard-working and proud of what they had accomplished over the years.

Michael Sheridan born 2 Oct 1850 in New York, came with his parents to Michigan and grew up on the Sheridan farm that was located a couple miles south of the town of Perrinton, Michigan.  He was the son of Irish immigrants Patrick and Margaret (Hughes) Sheridan. The farm had been started about 1854 and was a thriving enterprise. There were cows, hogs, chickens, land under oats, wheat, hay and fruit orchards.  After Michael married Elizabeth Holland 5 Nov 1877, they decided there should be a way to sell all of the excess from the farm.

And so, the Sheridan Poultry Hall was born. The buildings were acquired in downtown Perrinton and were located on Robison Street. Over the years Michael was known to be fair, and he would also buy from locals to supplement their supply. They even traveled as far as Detroit to sell to businesses there. In 1880 it would have taken 5-9 days by wagon, but Perrinton had a depot and the railroad came through town, so it would have only taken a part of a day for a load to be delivered. I have found a few articles that stated Michael 'was in Detroit on business'. I am assuming he had accompanied a load of produce and poultry to market.

This picture shows how the whole family stepped up and helped. It would have been a seven-day a week endeavor. Not just the processing and selling, but also the work on the family farm. The picture includes Michael and Elizabeth and also their children Herb, John (my grandfather), Lillian, Tressie and Leo. Also seated to the left of Michael is his brother Thomas John who lived at the farm. The others are not identified.


The poultry hall processed chickens, turkeys, ducks - all types of poultry. They also sold eggs not just locally but as far as Detroit. It was a thriving, profitable business.

This is where our work ethic comes from. It is in our DNA.

Barbie




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