Courthouse Square Historic District (Mason, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Courthouse Square Historic District
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| Location | Bounded by Park, E. Columbia, Rodgers and South, Mason, Michigan |
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| Area | 67 acres (27 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Bungalow/craftsman, Late Victorian |
| MPS | Mason Michigan Historic MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001243 |
| Added to NRHP | June 6, 1985 |
The Courthouse Square Historic District is a special area in Mason, Michigan. It's a place where you can find many old and important buildings. This district includes the main business area and some older homes. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 because of its history and unique buildings.
A Look Back: Mason's History
Mason was started way back in 1838. A company from Monroe, Michigan helped create the first part of the village. They built a sawmill and a gristmill, which were important for people living there. The area we now call the courthouse square was part of this first plan.
Soon, more people moved to Mason. The square quickly became the center of everything, especially for shops and businesses. A road to Lansing was started in 1839. In 1840, Mason became the county seat, which meant it was the main town for the county government. This brought even more growth.
The first courthouse was built in 1858. Mason kept growing, and by 1875, it became a city. Many more people moved to Mason in the 1880s. The population reached 2,200 by 1887. The area around the courthouse square became a busy place filled with businesses.
Growth slowed down in the early 1900s. This was good because it helped save many of the older homes near downtown. Some of these historic houses are still part of the district today. The current Ingham County Courthouse was built between 1903 and 1905.
What You'll Find in the District
The Courthouse Square Historic District covers eleven city blocks. It is the main business area of Mason. The district includes the Ingham County Courthouse. You will also find many shops, government buildings, and churches nearby.
There are also two historic neighborhoods with homes on either side of the downtown area. Important public buildings here include the library and the post office. There is also a school and three churches. In total, there are 181 buildings in the district. About 164 of these buildings are considered historic.
Homes in the District
The neighborhoods with homes are quite similar. They both have streets lined with trees. The houses are set back a bit from the road. You can see many different building styles here. These include Greek Revival, Italianate, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, and Craftsman styles.
The houses are built with similar materials. Many have metal roofs. They also have simple wooden frames around doors and windows. Most are made with wood siding called clapboard. Even with different styles, the houses are similar in size. This creates a nice, consistent look along the streets.
