Gardner House (Albion, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gardner House
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| Location | 509 S. Superior St., Albion, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1875 |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000383 |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1971 |
The Gardner House, also known as the A. P. Gardner Mansion, is a historic building in Albion, Michigan. It is located at 509 South Superior Street. This grand house was first built as a family home.
Today, the Gardner House is a museum. It is called the Gardner House Museum. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
History of the Gardner House
Augustus P. Gardner moved to Albion, Michigan, in 1837. He was a young man from New York. Mr. Gardner became a very successful hardware merchant in Albion.
In 1875, he built this large and beautiful house for his family. It quickly became a famous home in Albion. The house was a popular place for social events in the late 1800s.
Augustus Gardner lived in the house until he passed away in 1905. His daughter, Belle Gardner Gale, then owned the house. She sold it to Henry Wochholz in 1909.
Years later, in 1963, the city of Albion bought the house. By 1966, there were plans to tear it down. Luckily, the Albion Historical Society stepped in. They bought the house to save it.
The Historical Society worked to fix up the old house. They opened it as a museum for everyone to visit. The house was also renovated again in 1988.
What the Gardner House Looks Like
The Gardner House is a two-story mansion. It is built in the Gothic Victorian style. The house is made of brick, with different shades of yellow bricks.
It has a special roof called a mansard roof. The roof shingles are laid in a pattern that looks like fish scales. The house also has porches and towers. These parts show off the classic Gothic style.
The main entrance has a bay porch with two doors. There is also a bay window on the side of the house. Both the porch and the bay window have fancy decorated edges.
The mansard roof has round windows with pointed tops. The wooden decorations around these windows are carved. You can also see ornamental hanging pieces on the house.
