Fenton Downtown Historic District facts for kids
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Fenton Downtown Historic District
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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| Location | Bounded by Silver Lake Rd., Ellen, Walnut and River Sts., Fenton, Michigan |
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| Area | 12.5 acres (5.1 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002339 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | 1974 |
| Removed from NRHP | January 1, 1975 |
The Fenton Downtown Historic District was a special area in Fenton, Michigan, known for its old shops and buildings. It was located along LeRoy Street, between Silver Lake Road and Ellen Street. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This list helps protect important historical places. However, most of the buildings in the district were torn down, and so it was removed from the list in 1975.
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History of Fenton's Downtown
How Fenton Grew
Fenton was first settled in 1834. It grew a lot in the 1850s because a new train line, the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee, was planned to pass through the town in 1856. At first, the main shopping area was south of the Shiawassee River.
A New Center Forms
After the American Civil War, many new buildings were constructed in Fenton. This led to a new main center for shops and businesses along LeRoy Street. By the 1880s, many new brick buildings for businesses had been built there.
Changes and Demolition
By the 1960s, fewer people were shopping in downtown Fenton. Many shoppers started going to bigger malls nearby instead. In 1966, there was a plan to tear down the downtown area. This was part of a project called "urban renewal," which aimed to modernize cities.
Some people in Fenton wanted to save the old buildings. They believed in historic preservation, which means protecting important historical sites. There was a lot of discussion about what to do. In the end, most of the buildings were torn down in 1975.
What the District Looked Like
The Fenton Downtown Historic District included many shops and government buildings. These were built on both sides of LeRoy Street, covering two city blocks. Most of these buildings were made of brick and had two stories. There was also one single-story building and a few with three stories.
The buildings had special decorations at the top called cornices. These were made of brick or galvanized iron. The windows were a mix of rectangular and round shapes, with different materials used to cap them.
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