Dr. Henry K. Foote House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Dr. Henry K. Foote House
|
|
 |
|
| Location | 213 W. Huron St., Milford, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000062 |
| Added to NRHP | January 11, 1985 |
The Dr. Henry K. Foote House is a special old home located at 213 West Huron Street in Milford, Michigan. It was built in 1858 and is known for its beautiful Greek Revival style. This house is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it is recognized as a historic landmark. It was once the home of Dr. Henry K. Foote, a very important doctor and leader in the early days of Milford.
Contents
History of the Foote House
Dr. Foote's Early Life and Move to Milford
Dr. Henry K. Foote was born in 1803 in East Haddam, Connecticut. He studied to become a doctor in Albany, New York. In 1834, Dr. Foote and his wife, Minerva, moved to Michigan. They first settled in Wixom.
Around 1834 or 1835, the Footes bought two pieces of land in the village of Milford. Milford was just starting to grow at that time. They built a small wooden house on their land. By 1837, the Foote family moved to Milford permanently. Dr. Foote became the very first doctor in the community.
Dr. Foote's Work and Public Service
Dr. Foote had a very successful medical practice in the area. He often traveled to help patients who lived in the countryside. He also served in the State legislature. This meant he helped make laws for the state.
Building the Brick House
In 1858, Henry and Minerva Foote had this large brick house built for their family. It was a grand home for its time.
However, in 1862, Dr. Foote joined the army. He served as a surgeon during the Civil War. Sadly, he passed away in 1863 in Poolesville, Maryland.
Life in the House After Dr. Foote
Minerva Foote continued to live in the house after her husband's passing. She made the house bigger in the late 1860s or early 1870s. Minerva lived there until she passed away in 1882.
The house then went to the Foote's daughter, Mary Foote Nutting, and her husband. But they soon moved away. Ownership of the house then went to two of Dr. Foote's sons, James L. and Charles C. Foote.
The House as a Church Manse
The brothers later gave the house to the United Presbyterian and Congregational Church of Milford. The church used the house as its manse from 1889 to 1911. A manse is a home provided for a minister or pastor.
Since 1911, the house has had several different owners. These owners include the Milford Historical Society. It was also owned by Muriel Valley Foote, who was married to a great-great-grandson of the original owner, Dr. Henry K. Foote.
What the House Looks Like
Outside Appearance
The Dr. Henry K. Foote House is a two-story house made of brick. It is built in the Greek Revival style. This style often looks like ancient Greek temples. The house has a one-and-a-half-story section on one side. There is also a one-story section at the back for practical uses.
The house sits on a strong stone foundation. The front of the house has a main door and two windows on the first floor. On the second floor, there are three windows that are all the same size and spaced evenly.
The front door has narrow windows on each side, called sidelights. It also has a rectangular window above it, called a transom. The other windows have six small panes of glass on the top and six on the bottom. They have wide wooden frames. They also have narrow stone sills (the bottom part of the window frame) and noticeable rectangular stone pieces above them, called lintels. The roof is gently sloped. It has a simple wooden trim called a cornice. The side section of the house looks similar to the main part. It has a large wooden porch across its front.
Inside the House
When you go inside, there is a long hallway with stairs on one side. A living room, called a parlor, is off this hall. There is also one large room at the back of the house.
Upstairs, there is another hall. This hall leads to the main bedroom. A shorter side hall leads to two more rooms.
