David and Elizabeth Bell Boldman House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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David and Elizabeth Bell Boldman House
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Former site of the David and Elizabeth Bell Boldman House
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3339 Canton Center Road, Canton Township, Michigan |
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| Nearest city | Sheldon, Michigan |
| Area | 10.3 acres (4.2 ha) |
| Built | 1835 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Canton Township MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000615 |
| Added to NRHP | June 02, 2000 |
Imagine a really old house that was once a special landmark! The David and Elizabeth Bell Boldman House was a historic home in Canton Township, Michigan. It was so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. Sadly, the house isn't there anymore; its old spot is now an empty field.
Contents
What Did the House Look Like?
The Boldman House was built in a style called Greek Revival. This means it looked a bit like an ancient Greek temple! It had a tall, two-story middle section. On each side of this middle part, there were shorter, one-story sections.
Special Features of the House
The front of the house had a cool, open porch called a portico. This porch was two stories tall! It had square columns, known as Doric columns, on each end. Above the porch was a triangular shape, like the roof of a temple.
This style of house, with its two-story porch, was quite rare. It was mostly found in places like southeast Michigan, western New York, and northeast Ohio. The front door was in the middle, with two windows on each side. There were also two matching windows on the second floor.
How the House Was Built
The house was made of wood. Its foundation, which is the part that supports the house from below, was built from fieldstone. If you went into the basement, you could even see parts of the house made from logs that were shaped by hand!
Who Were the Boldmans?
The Boldman family played an important part in the early history of Canton Township. They were among the very first people to settle there.
Henry Boldman, the First Settler
Henry Boldman came to Canton Township all the way from Scotland, after spending some time in New York. He built the original house around the year 1835.
David Boldman and His Contributions
Later, Henry's son, David Boldman, made the house even bigger around 1858. David was a very busy and important person in the community. He even started a cheese factory!
David Boldman was also deeply involved in the local government. He held many different jobs for the township between 1847 and 1875. He was a highway commissioner, which meant he helped manage the roads. He was also a constable, like a police officer, and the township treasurer, handling the town's money.
Why Was This House Important?
The David and Elizabeth Bell Boldman House showed how the settlers in the area were becoming more successful. It reflected their growing wealth and their pride in building a better life for themselves.
