Henry Gilbert House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Henry Gilbert House
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| Location | 415 W. Lovell, Kalamazoo, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| MPS | Kalamazoo MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000859 |
| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1983 |
The Henry Gilbert House is a special old home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. You can find it at 415 West Lovell. This house is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's a historic building worth protecting!
History of the Henry Gilbert House
Henry Gilbert was born in Rushville, New York in 1810. He started working as a printer in New York. In 1835, he moved to Kalamazoo.
Soon, he became the publisher and editor of the Kalamazoo Gazette newspaper. This meant he ran the newspaper and decided what stories to print. Henry Gilbert also held many local government jobs. In 1856, he was chosen as the village president of Kalamazoo. This was like being the mayor of the village.
Later, Henry Gilbert left the newspaper business. He started different companies, including one that made furniture. By 1870, he was the richest person in Kalamazoo. However, he lost a lot of his money. In 1888, he moved into this new house and retired. Henry Gilbert lived here with his second wife until 1898. They both passed away on the same day.
Later Owners of the House
After Henry Gilbert, the house was owned by Dimmen denBleyker. He was an industrialist, meaning he owned and managed large businesses. Dimmen was the son of Paulus denBleyker, an important Dutch pioneer in the area.
Another famous person who lived in the house was William Shakespeare Jr. He was a local leader in business and the community. William Shakespeare Jr. started the Shakespeare Company, which made fishing equipment. He was also part of the first city commission. This group helped run the city. In 1933, he was elected mayor of Kalamazoo.
Design of the Henry Gilbert House
The Henry Gilbert House is a small house built in the Queen Anne style. This style was popular for homes in the late 1800s. It often features towers, turrets, and decorative details.
The house is known for its beautiful details. For example, it has shingles on the gables (the triangular parts of the roof) that are shaped like circles and points. You can also see sunburst patterns in the gables. There are decorative aprons with a "bullseye" pattern. The trim around the doors and windows has special corner blocks.
The front double doors are very fancy. Many windows have colored glass above them, called transoms. The chimneys are also special, with brickwork that sticks out and has panels. All these details make the Henry Gilbert House a unique and historic building.
