Bay City Downtown Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bay City Downtown Historic District
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Saginaw River, Second and Adam Sts. and Center Ave., Bay City, Michigan |
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| Area | 39 acres (16 ha) |
| Built | 1865 |
| Architect | Albert Kahn, et al. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Italianate, Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002338 |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 1985 |
The Bay City Downtown Historic District is a special area in Bay City, Michigan. It's filled with old commercial buildings. This district is mainly found near the Saginaw River, Second Street, Adam Street, and Center Avenue. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 because of its important history.
Contents
Bay City's Early Days
Bay City started around the mid-1840s. The very first shops opened their doors in 1850 or 1851. At first, businesses grew along North Water Street. This was close to the busy lumber businesses along the river. Third Street also became important because a bridge connected it to West Bay City. Center Avenue also became a key street for shops.
Building with Brick
The first brick building in Bay City was built in 1862. After a big fire in 1865, new rules were made. These rules said that new buildings had to be made of brick. This helped make the city safer from fires.
Growing City, Growing Downtown
In the 1870s and 1880s, the city grew very fast. More than 25,000 people lived there by 1884! During this time, the streets were paved. As the city got bigger, new buildings were built further east on Washington Street. Construction continued even after World War I.
What You'll See in the District
The Bay City Downtown Historic District has 91 buildings. Most of them (90) are commercial buildings, like shops and offices. There's also one government building. Sixty-seven of these buildings are considered "historic." This means they help tell the story of the district's past.
The district covers about 16 and a half city blocks. The buildings were built from the time of the Civil War up to the early 1930s. They show off many different styles. You can see fancy Italianate buildings. There are also strong Romanesque buildings. Some buildings from the early 1900s are in the Colonial Revival style. You can even find some more Modern designs.
Famous Buildings to Spot
Some of the most interesting buildings in the district include:
- Jennison Hardware Company: This is a group of three brick buildings on North Water Street. One part, built in 1924, was designed by the famous architect Albert Kahn.
- Phoenix Block: This is a four-story building on Washington Avenue. It was built in 1886–87 and has a strong Romanesque Revival style.
- United States Post Office, Court House and Custom House: This big, rectangular brick building on Washington Avenue was built in 1931–32.
- The Bay City Times Building: This two-story building on Fifth Street was built in 1907–08. It was also designed by Albert Kahn.
- First Shearer Block: Located on Center Avenue, this three-story building was built in 1866. It was the very first three-story business building in Bay City!
- Simmons Jewelers: This building on Center Avenue was built in the late 1870s or early 1880s. It's a great example of a "Commercial Palace" style.
