Henry S. Frieze House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Henry S. Frieze House
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| Location | 1547 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, Michigan |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000659 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1972 |
The Henry S. Frieze House is a cool old house located at 1547 Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It's a special building because it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it's an important part of history!
Contents
A Look Back: The Story of the Frieze House
Who Was Henry S. Frieze?
Henry S. Frieze was born in Boston in 1817. He went to Brown University and became a professor. In 1854, he moved to Ann Arbor. He started teaching Latin at the University of Michigan.
Building a Home
In 1859, Professor Frieze bought the land where the house now stands. Back then, it was outside of town. He hired skilled stone masons from Guelph, Ontario to build his house. Construction took a few years, from 1860 to 1862.
Later Owners
In 1868, Frieze sold the house to Augustus Scott. Mr. Scott was a retired businessman from Toledo, Ohio. Later, in 1898, Horace W. Wilgus bought the house. He was a law professor at the university. The Wilgus family lived in the house for many years, until the 1960s.
What the Frieze House Looks Like
The Frieze House is a two-story building. It's built in a style called Italianate. This style was popular in the mid-1800s.
Outside the House
The house is made of strong, cut fieldstone. The stone walls are very thick, about two feet! The stones come in many colors, from black to light gray, and even some red and orange. The roof is made of slate and has a special shape called "hipped and gabled." On top of the roof, there's a small tower called a cupola with a weathervane. The house also has very large brick chimneys.
Inside the House
When you step inside, you'll notice the rooms are big. The ceilings are also very high. On the first floor, the ceilings are eleven feet tall! On the second floor, they are still tall at nine feet. The beautiful wood inside the house is made of walnut and butternut. It has a smooth, oiled finish.
