Ella Sharp Museum facts for kids
The Ella Sharp Museum is a cool historical museum located at 3225 4th Street in Jackson, Michigan. It's built around an old farmhouse from the 1800s, called the Ella Sharp House (or sometimes the Merriman-Sharp House). This house is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972!
Quick facts for kids |
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Ella Sharp House
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| Location | 3225 4th St., Jackson, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000622 |
| Added to NRHP | August 25, 1972 |
Contents
The Story of the Ella Sharp House
Who Lived Here First?
The story of the Ella Sharp House begins in 1855. A man named Abraham Wing from Glen Falls, New York bought a big farm here. Back then, it was on the edge of the city of Jackson.
In 1856, Abraham's daughter, Mary, married Dwight Merriman. Mary and Dwight started managing the farm, even though Abraham still owned it. There was already a small house on the farm, probably built around the early 1840s.
How the House Grew Over Time
The Merrimans immediately started making the house bigger. They added a new front section in the Greek Revival style. Then, in 1862, they expanded it again! This time, they added a cool Italianate tower and another small part to the house.
By the 1860s, this farm was one of the most successful in the area. The Merrimans were also very active in their community. They had four children, but sadly, three of them passed away when they were young. Their fourth child, Ella, was born in 1857.
Ella Sharp Takes Over the Farm
In 1881, Ella married John C. Sharp. John was a lawyer who had worked for Jackson City and Jackson County. In 1884, the Merrimans gave their farm to John and Ella Sharp. The Merrimans then moved into town.
John stopped being a lawyer to focus on farming with Ella. Under their care, the farm became even better! John Sharp passed away in 1908. Ella Sharp continued to manage the farm by herself until she passed away in 1912.
A Museum and Park for Everyone
Ella Sharp had a special wish for her house and farm. She left them to the city of Jackson to be used as a museum and a park for everyone to enjoy.
The city hired Winiford C. Trout in 1915 to start planning the park grounds. The Ella Sharp Park officially opened in 1916. Winiford Trout actually lived in the farmhouse for over 20 years while he was the park supervisor! However, the Ella Sharp Museum itself didn't open until 1965.
What Does the Ella Sharp House Look Like?
The Ella Sharp House is a two-story building made of brick. It has a tall, three-story tower attached to it, which is topped with a wooden cupola. The house also has a two-story front porch with four columns.
The windows have stone tops and bottoms and also have shutters. A strong stone wall surrounds the yard, which was built before 1865. There's even a special covered entrance for carriages on the south side of the house!
Other Buildings at the Museum
The Ella Sharp Museum isn't just one house! It's a whole historical complex with other interesting buildings. These include:
- The Dibble School, built in 1875.
- A log cabin from around 1840.
- An old-fashioned country store.
