Bridge Street-Broad Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bridge Street-Broad Street Historic District
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Bridge Street south, at Broad
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| Location | 3 Central blocks of Broad St., 2 blocks Bridge St., Linden, Michigan |
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| Area | 35 acres (14 ha) |
| Built | 1873 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| MPS | Genesee County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000502 |
| Added to NRHP | November 26, 1982 |
The Bridge Street-Broad Street Historic District is a special area in Linden, Michigan. It has many old buildings that tell a story about the past. This historic district is mostly made up of shops and businesses. It covers three blocks of Broad Street and two blocks of Bridge Street. This important area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it is recognized as a place worth protecting because of its history.
How the District Grew Over Time
The story of Linden began in the early 1830s. That's when a dam was built here. In 1837, a bridge and a place to eat and stay (a tavern) were built in this very area. By 1840, the town had two mills, a hotel, and other shops. Mills are places where grain is ground into flour.
Around 1845, the mills burned down. But new ones were quickly built, including the famous Linden Mill. More factories started to open in the 1850s. This made the business part of Linden grow and become very busy. The first building made of brick appeared in 1865. A bank opened in 1871.
The downtown area really started to boom in the 1880s. The number of shops and businesses tripled between 1880 and 1890. New street lamps and sidewalks were added in the early 1890s. This made the area even better for people to visit and shop.
However, Linden faced a tough time during the Great Depression. This was a period in the 1930s when many people lost their jobs and businesses. Linden lost almost all of its factories. The village never became as strong economically as it was in the late 1800s. Because of this, the streets in the district stayed much the same for a long time. In 2007, a fire damaged a building called the Union Block. It was later taken down.
What You Can See in the District
The Bridge Street-Broad Street Historic District has 43 buildings. Thirty-five of these buildings are considered "contributing." This means they are old enough and still look like they did in the past. They help show the history of the area. Most of these buildings were built between 1850 and 1925.
The district is mostly for businesses. Many buildings are brick shops built in the Italianate style. This style often has tall, narrow windows and fancy decorations. But there are also ten wooden houses. These homes are built in the Greek Revival or Queen Anne styles. Greek Revival buildings often look like old Greek temples. Queen Anne homes can have towers, turrets, and different textures.
You can also find other interesting buildings here. There are two old homes that are now used as shops. The district also has two churches, the village hall, and the Board of Education Building. The old Linden Mill is now the village library.
