Clinton Downtown Historic District (Clinton, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Clinton Downtown Historic District
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Clinton Inn and nearly buildings.
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 101-151 and 104-200 W. Michigan Ave., Clinton, Michigan |
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| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Greek Revival, Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000220 |
| Added to NRHP | April 27, 2010 |
The Clinton Downtown Historic District is a special area in the village of Clinton, Michigan. It's like a preserved snapshot of history! This district includes most of the buildings on the 100 block of West Michigan Avenue, which is also part of U.S. Route 12. It also includes Memorial Park. This important district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 27, 2010. This means it's recognized nationally for its historical value.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How Clinton Grew
The story of this district began when the village of Clinton was first planned out in 1833. It became an official village in 1837. Some of the oldest buildings still standing in the historic district are from this early time. These include a wooden building at 117-121 West Michigan and brick buildings at 135 and 141 West Michigan.
Clinton grew quickly because it was located on the important Chicago Road and near the River Raisin. By 1838, the village had about 600 people. It was a busy place with a post office, a bank, many stores, and places to eat. There were also mills, taverns, and clothing shops. Many of these businesses were in what is now the downtown area.
Boom Times and New Buildings
After a branch railroad line was finished in 1853, Clinton's economy really took off. Older wooden buildings in the downtown area were replaced with stronger brick and stone structures. This period of growth lasted through the end of the 1800s.
A lot of new buildings were constructed starting in the 1880s. This building boom was busiest in the mid-1890s. Some more big buildings were added in the early 1900s. A few more buildings joined the district in the 1910s. Memorial Park, which is at one end of the district, was created in 1919.
What the District Looks Like
Buildings and Styles
The Clinton Downtown Historic District has 29 commercial buildings, a town hall, and a memorial park. They are all located along one block of Michigan Avenue. The buildings look like they belong together and show different styles of architecture. These styles include Greek Revival, which looks like ancient Greek temples, and Italianate, which has decorative features. There are also commercial buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The oldest buildings date back to the 1830s. Most of the buildings are made of brick or stone. The majority are two stories tall. They are often called "two-part brick commercial blocks." This means they have a storefront on the ground floor and offices or apartments on the upper floor.
Important Buildings
Two buildings in the district really stand out: the Clinton Inn and the Town Hall.
The Clinton Inn
The Clinton Inn is located at 106 West Michigan Avenue. It was built between 1900 and 1901. It is the tallest and largest building in the district, with three stories. It has a unique corner tower that faces the street intersection. This tower holds the entrance to the hotel. At the very top of the tower is a square clock tower with a pointed roof. It has clocks on three sides. The front of the building on Michigan Avenue has three large arched openings at street level. The upper floors are divided into three sections with big decorative supports under the roof.
The Town Hall
The Town Hall is at 172 West Michigan Avenue. It was built in 1876. The Village and Township of Clinton worked together with Clinton's Masonic lodge to build it. The building is still owned by the township and the Masons. It is a two-story brick building with a sloped roof and an arched entrance. The front of the building has three sections. The main entrance is in the middle, with pairs of windows on either side. The second story also has three sets of paired windows. The corners of the building and the spaces between the windows have brick columns that rise from a stone foundation.
