Downtown Holly Commercial District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Downtown Holly Commercial District
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East side of Saginaw Street, at Battle Alley
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Maple St., S. Broad St., Grand Trunk RR, and First St., Holly, Michigan |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000866 |
| Added to NRHP | April 25, 1986 |
The Downtown Holly Commercial District is a special area in Holly, Michigan. It's filled with old shops and buildings. You can find it mostly along South Saginaw Street and Battle Alley. This historic area is bordered by Maple Street, South Broad Street, First Street, and the old Grand Trunk Railroad tracks. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 because of its important history.
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History of Downtown Holly
The town of Holly began in 1843. A man named Ira C. Alger built a grist mill there. A grist mill is a place where grain is ground into flour. This mill was built along the Shiawassee River.
Railroads Bring Growth
In 1855, the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Railway built a train line through Holly. Then, in 1864, the Flint and Holly Railroad added another line. These railroads helped Holly grow a lot. After the American Civil War, Holly's population tripled in just five years.
The train station on Broad Street became the busiest spot. Shops and businesses quickly opened along Saginaw Street and Battle Alley. This made the downtown area a lively place.
Fire and Rebuilding
In 1875, a big fire destroyed many wooden buildings on Saginaw Street. But the town quickly rebuilt. New buildings were made of brick, which was much safer. Holly continued to do well for the rest of the 1800s.
However, when cars became popular, growth in Holly slowed down. The last major buildings in downtown were built around 1910 to 1920. Over the years, many buildings became old and run-down. Some were even torn down.
Modern Renovations
Luckily, in the early 1970s, people started to fix up the old buildings. Many historic structures were repaired and made beautiful again. Today, the Downtown Holly Commercial District is a vibrant place that shows off its rich history.
What the District Looks Like
The Downtown Holly Commercial District is shaped like an "L" and covers about 5 acres. It has 23 main buildings. These buildings are one to three stories tall. They are made from brick, stone, and wood. Most of them are commercial buildings, meaning they were built for businesses. They were constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Building Styles
The buildings show different architectural styles. These include Italianate, Neo-Classical, Richardsonian Romanesque, and Queen Anne. Battle Alley is a narrow, one-lane street. The buildings there are usually smaller. The buildings on Saginaw Street are much larger.
Important Buildings to See
Here are some of the most important buildings in the district:
- Wilson Block (127-127 S. Saginaw Street): This two-story brick building was built in 1877. It has a style called Italianate. It was built after the big fire for Wilson's Cyclone Fence Co. and a drug store. It faces both Saginaw Street and Battle Alley. You can see its fancy decorations on the roof edges and etched designs above the windows.
- Commercial Building (117 S. Saginaw Street): This two-story brick building was built in 1891. It was made for C.E. Lockwood's furniture store. It has a special stone arch and fan-shaped windows on the second floor.
- Holly Town Hall (102 Front Street): This 2-1/2 story brick building was built in 1890. It's in the Queen Anne style. This was Holly's first building just for the town government. The ground floor used to have garages for a fire station. It also has a round tower that looks like the one on the Holly Hotel.
- Old Citizens Bank (109 Battle Alley): This small, one-story building was built in 1902. It's made of brick and stone in the Neo-Classical style. It used to be a bank.
- Holly Hotel (202 S. Front Street): This two-and-a-half story building was built in 1891. It's a very famous landmark in Holly. It has survived two fires, including one in 1978. After that fire, a big effort was made to fix it up. The corner of the building has a unique three-story tower. The Holly Hotel is so important that it is listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places.
Gallery
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South side of Battle Alley, at Saginaw
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Holly Town Hall
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East side of Saginaw Street
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West side of Saginaw Street
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Hirst (Holly) Hotel
