Coldwater Downtown Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Coldwater Downtown Historic District
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Chicago, looking west from Monroe
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | W. Chicago St. from Division to Clay Sts., Coldwater, Michigan |
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| Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Late Victorian, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001124 |
| Added to NRHP | July 26, 1990 |
The Coldwater Downtown Historic District is a special area in Coldwater, Michigan. It's filled with old buildings that tell stories about the town's past. Most of these buildings are shops and businesses. This district is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
A Look Back in Time
Coldwater started as a trading post way back in 1822. A trading post was like a small shop where people could trade goods. Soon after, a major road called the Chicago Road was built through the area in the late 1820s. Today, this road is known as Chicago Street.
The village of Coldwater was officially planned out in 1831. Right away, new shops and businesses began to appear. The area that is now the historic district quickly became the main business center. As Coldwater grew, more businesses opened along Chicago Road. In 1851, a train station (called a depot) was built. This made the blocks of Chicago Street near Monroe Street a very busy place for businesses.
At first, most buildings in downtown Coldwater were made of wood. But in the early 1850s, several big fires destroyed many buildings. Because of this, the village decided that all new buildings in the downtown area had to be made of stone or brick. This rule started in 1854. Many of the buildings you see today were built during a big construction period from the 1870s to the 1880s. Some buildings from the early 1900s are also part of the district.
What You'll See Today
The Coldwater Downtown Historic District covers several blocks of West Chicago Street. It also includes parts of the streets that cross it. This area is the heart of Coldwater's business district.
There are 64 buildings in the district. About 49 of them are considered "historic." This means they help show what the district was like in the past. Almost all the buildings are one to three stories tall. They are made of brick and were built between the 1860s and the 1920s. The buildings stand right next to each other along the sidewalk. Many of them show the "Italianate" style of architecture. You might also spot some buildings with "Gothic Revival" or "Neo-Classical" styles.
Important Buildings to See
- H. J. Woodward & Son Building (23 West Chicago): This two-story building has cool round-top windows. It also has raised brick designs on the walls.
- Coldwater National Bank Building (28 West Chicago): This three-story building was built in 1929. It's made of limestone and has a grand entrance with tall columns. Today, it's used for city offices.
- Old Post Office (25 N. Monroe): This three-story building was built in 1882. It's another great example of the Italianate style.
- Tibbits Opera House (14 S. Hanchett): Built in 1881-82, this is a large brick building. It has an old-fashioned theater inside that is still used today.
- Post Office (36 W. Pearl): This building was constructed around 1909-1910. It's a wide building made of limestone and light-colored brick. It has a red tile roof.
Gallery
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Chicago, looking west from Marshall
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Chicago, looking east from Monroe
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Northeast corner of Chicago and Monroe
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Chicago, looking west from Monroe
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Chicago, looking west from Marshall
