Ella Sharp Museum facts for kids
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 |
The Ella Sharp Museum is a cool place to visit in Jackson, Michigan. It's a museum that teaches you about history. The main building is an old farmhouse called the Ella Sharp House. It was built a long time ago in the 1800s. This special house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It is also known as the Merriman-Sharp House.
Contents
The Farm's Early Days
In 1855, a man named Abraham Wing bought a big farm. It was located just outside the city of Jackson. A year later, in 1856, Abraham's daughter, Mary, married Dwight Merriman. They started managing the farm together.
The farm already had a small house. It was probably built around the early 1840s. The Merrimans quickly made the house bigger. They added a new front part in the Greek Revival style. This style was popular for its grand, columned look.
In 1862, they expanded the house again. This time, they added an Italianate tower. This tower made the house look even more impressive. They also added another small section to the house.
A Prosperous Farm and Family
By the 1860s, the Merriman farm was doing very well. It was one of the most successful farms in the area. The Merrimans were also very involved in their community. They had four children. Sadly, three of them passed away when they were young. Their fourth child, Ella, was born in 1857.
Ella Sharp Takes Over
In 1881, Ella Merriman married John C. Sharp. John was a lawyer. He had worked as the city attorney for Jackson. He was also the prosecuting attorney for 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. Under the Sharps' care, the farm became even better.
John Sharp passed away in 1908. Ella Sharp continued to manage the farm by herself. She managed it until she passed away in 1912. Ella Sharp left the house and farm to the city of Jackson. She wanted it to be used as a museum and a park for everyone to enjoy.
From Farm to Museum
The city of Jackson hired Winiford C. Trout in 1915. He started planning the park's layout. The Ella Sharp Park officially opened in 1916. Mr. Trout lived in the farmhouse for over 20 years. He was the supervisor of the park during that time.
However, the Ella Sharp Museum did not open right away. It finally opened its doors to the public in 1965.
What the Museum Looks Like
The Ella Sharp House is a two-story building made of brick. It has a tall, three-story tower attached to it. This tower is in the Italianate style. It has a wooden cupola, which is like a small dome, on top.
The front of the house has a two-story porch with columns. The windows have stone frames and shutters. A strong stone wall surrounds the yard. This wall was built around 1865. It was designed by George S. Brown, a stonemason from New York. There is also a special porch on the south side of the house for carriages.
The Ella Sharp Museum is more than just the main house. It has other historical buildings nearby. These include the Dibble School, which was built in 1875. There's also a log cabin from around 1840. Plus, you can see an old country store.
