The all-white jury couldn’t reach a verdict, and Frank Murphy, a future U.S. Supreme Court justice, declared a mistrial. After Henry Sweet was acquitted by another all-white jury, the charges against the rest were dismissed.

‘Transference of authority’

Baxter’s parents, William and Ruby, bought the house in 1958 for $15,000 after his mother recalled seeing it in a dream.

Over the years, the home attracted interest from the media and, in 1975, Baxter’s father turned down an interview from a local newspaper about Sweet because of a past misquote. Instead, he sent his son out to talk to the media.

“When that happened, it was a transference of authority from my dad to me,” Baxter said. “From that moment, at 10 years old, I became the official spokesperson for the Ossian Sweet House and I have had the opportunity to tell his story.”

Baxter has traveled across the country over the years, hosting talks about Sweet, his legacy and his experiences of growing up in the house on Garland.

The first phase of the restoration should begin in April, with planned updates including restored electricity, piping and furniture.

The Ossian Sweet Diversity Foundation has raised money to remove the carpet from the living room and restore the floor to its original woodwork.

During phase two, the basement will be transformed into an interactive museum comprising touch screens and a short docudrama that outlines the Sweet trials and major events that took place in Detroit during 1925.

Baxter hopes to raise enough money to run the phases parallel so the museum will open on Sept. 8, 2020, the 95th anniversary of the shootings. Ownership of the house would be placed in a separate trust, the William H. and Ruby Baxter Trust.

“In years to come, we hope to be able to do things on a grander scale because there are still Detroiters that drive past and are not aware of what took place here,” he said.

“It’s all about uncovering this story and putting it in its proper place in American history.”

The home was added to the State of Michigan Register of Historic Places in 1975 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. But it didn’t receive a historical marker from the state until 2004.

Over the years, the neighborhood has deteriorated. Property records show 11 parcels on the block are owned by the Detroit Land Bank, which takes ownership of property after tax foreclosure, and 13 are owned by Hantz Woodlands, a nonprofit planning a tree farm on vacant land.

‘It’s not easy to risk your life’

Tragedy also followed Sweet.

After the trial, his wife and daughter died of tuberculosis. He remarried twice with both marriages ending in bitter divorce. Years later, his brother Henry also died of tuberculosis.