Homer Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Homer Village Historic District
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Leigh, Burgess, Hamilton, School, and Byron Sts., Homer, Michigan |
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| Area | 86 acres (35 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000805 |
| Added to NRHP | July 25, 1996 |
The Homer Village Historic District is a special area in Homer, Michigan. It includes many old shops and homes. This historic district is found near Leigh, Burgess, Hamilton, School, and Byron Streets. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This means it's an important place to protect because of its history.
Contents
History of Homer Village
How Homer Started
The village of Homer began in 1832. A man named Milton Barney from Lyons, New York bought land here. He built a saw mill, which cuts wood. Barney then hired Oshea Wilder to plan out the village. This plan was for an area along an old road, now known as M-60. The first village plan covered the area between Platt, Burgess, Burt, and Byron Streets.
Growth and Changes
A shopping area quickly grew along Main Street. This was especially true around the public square. Milton Barney even built a hotel there. Farmers began to settle in the areas around Homer. By 1856, about 350 people lived in the village.
In the late 1860s and 1870s, train lines were built through Homer. This made the village a busy center for transportation. It helped goods and people move around the area.
Fires and New Buildings
In 1876, a big fire destroyed almost all the wooden shops downtown. After the fire, new buildings were made from brick. This made them much safer from future fires. By 1890, the population of Homer had grown to nearly 2,000 people.
Modern Times
New shops and homes continued to be built into the 1900s. However, when cars became popular, the village's growth slowed down. People could travel more easily to bigger towns. The Great Depression in the 1930s also made things harder. Since then, Homer has kept a population of about 1,200 people. This has limited how much more the village has grown.
What the District Looks Like
Buildings and Styles
The Homer Village Historic District covers most of the original village area. It includes the main two-block shopping area. It also has the homes around it. The district has 210 buildings and structures. About 188 of these are "contributing" buildings. This means they are old and important to the district's history.
The shops in the commercial area are mostly two-story brick buildings. The most noticeable building is the three-story Lyon block. There is a public square at one end of the shopping district. The old Cortright-Van Patten Mill used to be at the other end.
Homes and Architecture
The homes in the surrounding areas are a mix of brick and wooden houses. They are on large lots along streets with many trees. You can see different styles of architecture here. These include Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne. There are also simpler versions of these styles.
