Iron Mountain Central Historic District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Iron Mountain Central Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Stephenson Avenue (US2) at C Street
Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Broadly, Fleshiem to C St. & Iron Mountain to Stockbridge Ave., Iron Mountain, Michigan
Architectural style	Late Victorian, Neoclassical, Art Deco, Commercial Brick, Mid-century modern
NRHP reference No.	13000763
Added to NRHP	September 25, 2013

The Iron Mountain Central Historic District is a special area in Iron Mountain, Michigan. It's like a time capsule of the city's past. This district includes the main business area and other important places. You'll find old shops, the county courthouse, schools, a library, and churches here. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 because of its history and unique buildings.

History of Iron Mountain's Downtown

Lake Superior Iron Ranges

In 1878, a huge amount of iron ore was found near what is now Iron Mountain. Soon after, in 1879, the first mine opened. People quickly started moving to the area for work. The town of Iron Mountain grew very fast. Builders created new areas for homes and businesses almost overnight.

By the late 1880s, Iron Mountain was booming. Wooden shops filled Stephenson Street. But after several fires, the city decided that new buildings had to be made of brick or stone. This made the downtown area much safer. Many large brick buildings were built around 1891.

Around 1900, the mining industry slowed down. This meant fewer jobs and less growth for Iron Mountain. The population stayed about the same, and not many new buildings were constructed during this time.

Things changed in the 1920s when the Ford Motor Company opened a large factory nearby. This brought thousands of new jobs and people to Iron Mountain. The city's economy boomed again! More new buildings were built in the downtown area to support all the new residents and businesses.

However, the Great Depression in the 1930s hit Iron Mountain hard. Many people lost their jobs. Building projects almost stopped completely. After World War II, the economy slowly got better. Even though the Ford plant closed in 1951, new construction and renovations still happened in the downtown area.

In recent years, the downtown district has faced challenges. New stores opened outside the main area, and some old buildings were lost to fires. But the city has worked hard to protect and restore its historic downtown. This helps keep the history of Iron Mountain alive.

What You'll Find in the District

The Iron Mountain Central Historic District is the heart of downtown Iron Mountain. It follows Stephenson Avenue (US-2), which is the main street. The district has a unique shape and includes 144 buildings. Most of these buildings were built between the early 1880s and the mid-1960s.

For over a hundred years, this area was the main place for business in Iron Mountain. In the early days, you would find general stores, grocery shops, clothing stores, and hardware stores. There were also places like banks, barbershops, hotels, restaurants, and blacksmiths.

Later, in the 1900s, new types of businesses appeared. These included department stores, car dealerships, gas stations, movie theaters, and bowling alleys. Many buildings also had meeting spaces upstairs for groups like the Masons or the Elks.

Besides shops, the district also has important government buildings. These include the county courthouse, the city hall, and the post office. You'll also find schools, like the public junior high and high school, and the public library. The library building is now a museum! There are also six churches and some old houses in the district.

Important Buildings in the District

Here are some of the most interesting buildings in the Iron Mountain Central Historic District, listed by when they were built.

Unnamed Store (535-537 Stephenson)

This building was built around 1883. It is probably the oldest commercial building still standing in downtown Iron Mountain. It started as a meat market, then became a fruit and candy shop, and later a grocery store. A small addition was built in the 1920s. The original part is a two-story wooden building.

German Hotel (407 Merritt)

The German Hotel was built between 1884 and 1888. It had a saloon and a hotel. In 1920, it was sold and renamed the American Hotel. It was a hotel until at least 1949. The building is a two-story wooden structure. It has been updated over the years, but its original shape is still there.

First Presbyterian Church (200 W. Brown)

The First Presbyterian Church was built in 1886. The church used this building until 1958. After that, it was used as a workshop and then another church. Today, it houses a design business. It's a beautiful wooden building with a unique Stick style design. It has a tall tower with a bell area and fancy wooden decorations.

Chicago & North Western Passenger Depot (310 Stephenson)

Dickinson County Courthouse

The Chicago & North Western railroad came to Iron Mountain in 1880. This building, built in 1889, was the train station. It served passengers until about 1950. After that, it became a sports shop and other businesses. It's a long, narrow, single-story building made of limestone and brick. It has a wide roof that hangs over the sides.

Wood Sandstone Block (206-16 E. Ludington)

This large building was built in 1891. It was first called the "Sandstone" block because of its stone walls. It originally had six stores on the first floor and county offices upstairs. In 1900, the city bought it and used it as their city hall until 1994. It's a huge two-story building with a Richardsonian Romanesque style. It has brownish stone walls and large arches.

Dickinson County Courthouse (705 Stephenson)

The Dickinson County Courthouse was built in 1896. It was designed by an architect named James E. Clancy. A new jail was built in 1985, but the old jail structure was later renovated for county offices. The courthouse is a 2 1/2-story building with a Richardsonian Romanesque style. It's made of red brick and sandstone. It has a rounded arch entrance supported by granite columns.

Public Library Building (300 Ludington)

In 1901, Andrew Carnegie gave money to build this library. It was completed in 1902 and designed by J.E. Clancy. It served as the public library until 1971. Now, it's the Menominee Range Museum. This building is a Neoclassical style structure with a stone front. It has a porch with Ionic columns and a low stone wall around the front lawn.

High School (300 W. B Street)

Iron Mountain High School

The Iron Mountain High School was built in 1911-1912. It was designed by D. Fred Charlton. This building is still used as the high school today! It's a three-story Neoclassical building made of red brick with limestone trim. The center part sticks out a bit and has a porch with four Roman Doric columns.

Braumart Theater Building (104-108 E. B Street)

The Braumart Theater was built in 1924-1925. It was a popular movie theater for many years. It closed in 1996, but today it's used as a performing arts center. It's a two-story brick building with limestone decorations. The original theater could seat 1000 people!

Commercial Bank Building (500 Stephenson)

This impressive five-story building was constructed in 1929 for the Commercial Bank. Today, it houses the Northern Michigan Bank & Trust. It's an Art Deco style office building. It's made of colorful brick with limestone and terra cotta decorations. Look closely, and you might see ram's head plaques and large eagles at the top!

St. Joseph Catholic Church (414 W. Prospect)

The original St. Joseph Catholic Church burned down in 1930. This new church was built to replace it in 1931-1933. It's a large church with two towers in a Neo-Gothic style. It's made of grayish-white stone. The front has two square towers and a deeply set entrance.

Junior High (301 W. Hughitt)

The Iron Mountain Junior High School was built in 1938. It was designed by local architects F. E. Parmalee & Son. This building is still used as part of the middle school today. It's a three-story building made of light orange brick in the Art Deco style. It has a wide central entrance with steps leading up to it.

Iron Mountain Motel (700 Stephenson)

The Iron Mountain Motel was built in 1954-1955. It was owned by the Fornetti family, who also had cabins nearby. They later changed its name to the Downtown Motel. It used to be a hotel, but now it has apartments. It's a two-story building made of brown brick with concrete trim. It has outdoor stairways leading to the second-floor rooms.

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