Nestled in a bend of the Shiawassee River in Owosso sits a tiny castle straight out of a fairy tale.

Built as a writing studio in 1923 by author James Oliver Curwood, Curwood Castle is a replica of a Norman chateau. The author designed it with help from architect Harold Childs of Lansing and handpicked every stone in the side of the building.

Curwood, born in 1878 and raised in Owosso, was known to have begun writing as a child and had his first short stories published at age 13, according to the Shiawassee District Library. He attended the University of Michigan's English program and did two stints as a reporter at the Detroit News-Tribune.

He went on to write 33 books and over 200 church stories, according to Denice Grace, the head docent at Curwood Castle. Grace has identified 238 mo

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