Henry A. Chapin House facts for kids
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Henry A. Chapin House
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 508 E. Main St., Niles, Michigan  United States |
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| Built | 1882 |
| Architect | Wheelock & Clay |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000304 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1981 |
The Henry A. Chapin House, also known as the Chapin Mansion, is a really old and important house in Niles, Michigan. It was recognized as a special historic place in Michigan in 1976. Later, in 1981, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important buildings across the country.
Contents
The Story of Chapin Mansion
Who Was Henry A. Chapin?
Henry A. Chapin was born in Leyden, Massachusetts in 1813. When he was just one year old, his family moved to Ohio. In 1834, Chapin moved to Edwardsburg, Michigan, which is close to Niles. There, he started his first general store.
Ten years later, he teamed up with S. S. Griffin. They opened a wool business and another general store in Niles. This business had some tough times in 1861. But by 1864, Chapin was doing well again.
The Discovery of Iron Ore
In 1865, Henry Chapin bought a large piece of land in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This land was near Iron Mountain. In 1878, something amazing happened: a huge amount of iron ore was found on Chapin's property!
Because of this discovery, the Chapin Mine was quickly started. Henry Chapin didn't actually own or run the mine himself. Instead, he received payments called royalties. These payments were huge, ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 every year for the rest of his life!
Building the Mansion
With his new wealth, Henry Chapin decided to build a grand house. Construction on the mansion began in 1882. The famous Chicago company, Wheelock & Clay, designed the house.
The house was finished in 1884. Henry Chapin lived in this beautiful home until he passed away in 1898.
The Mansion's Later Life
In 1933, the Chapin Mansion was given to the city of Niles. For many years, from the mid-1930s until 2012, it served as the Niles City Hall. This means it was where the city's government offices were located.
In May 2013, the Niles History Center took over the mansion. They opened it to the public, allowing everyone to visit and learn about its history.
About the Chapin Mansion
Outside the House
The Chapin House is a three-story building made of red brick. It's built in the Queen Anne style, which was popular for grand homes. The house has fancy decorations made of slate, wood, and terra cotta.
It sits on a strong foundation of Bedford blue stone. The roof is a hipped roof, covered with slate. A cool feature of the house is its round corner tower with a pointed roof, called a turret. You'll also see many porches and bay windows that stick out or are set back into the house.
Inside the House
The inside of the Chapin Mansion is just as impressive as the outside. On the first floor, there was an entrance hall. This led to a parlor (a fancy living room) and a library. There was also a sitting room, a dining room, a kitchen, and a pantry.
Upstairs, on the second floor, were four large bedrooms. There were also separate rooms for the servants. The third floor had a special room: a ballroom! This was likely used for parties and dances. Even though the house was used as City Hall for over 70 years, the inside still looks much like it did when Henry Chapin lived there.
Fort St. Joseph Museum
The Fort St. Joseph Museum is located in the old carriage house of the Chapin Mansion. This museum teaches visitors all about the history of Niles.
What You Can See at the Museum
- Fort St. Joseph: Learn about the original Fort St. Joseph. This was a trading post built by the French in 1691.
- Underground Railroad: Discover the story of the Underground Railroad in southern Michigan. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom.
- Area Railroads: Explore the history of trains and railroads in the area.
- Lakota People: See artifacts from the Lakota people, an important Native American group.
