Island City Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Island City Historic District
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State Street Dam looking downriver
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | N. & S. Main, E. & W. Hamlin, E. & W. Knight, King, Hall, & Spicer Sts., Eaton Rapids, Michigan |
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| Architectural style | Italianate, Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival, Second Empire, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 12000557 |
| Added to NRHP | August 28, 2012 |
The Island City Historic District is a special area in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. It's like a time capsule, showing how the city grew. This district covers a whole island in the middle of the city. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. This means it's an important place to protect and learn about.
History of Eaton Rapids' Island City
Early Settlement and Growth
The area around Eaton Rapids was first settled in 1836. People built a sawmill a couple of miles from where downtown Eaton Rapids is now. Soon after, a group of investors built a dam on Spring Brook. They also started digging a "race," which is like a channel for water. This water power helped run a grist mill, which grinds grain.
The village was planned out, and by 1837, houses started to appear. In 1840, a much bigger water race was built. This helped power more sawmills and factories. In 1842, the South Feeder Race was dug. This channel helped create the island that the historic district is on today.
Booming Industries and Businesses
The settlement grew quickly over the next 40 years. This growth was helped by the mills and farms nearby. People also discovered mineral springs in the 1860s. These springs were thought to have healing powers, bringing more visitors.
Many mills and other businesses started along the water races in the district. This began around 1840. In 1880, a man named Samuel Horner bought a woolen mill. He made it very successful. He built many factory buildings in the northern part of the district. His companies did well until the 1950s.
As the mills grew, so did other businesses in Eaton Rapids. By the early 1860s, there were many shops. These included grocery stores, shoe stores, and hardware stores. There were also places to rent horses (liveries) and hat makers (milliners).
Fires and Rebuilding
Fires were a big problem in the early days. A fire in 1864 destroyed half of the downtown buildings. Even bigger fires in 1874 and 1877 ruined most of what was left. To protect the town, a Fireman's Hall was built in 1881. This building housed the village's fire station.
Exploring the Island City District
What Makes the District Special?
The Island City Historic District has 139 different parts. These include buildings, sites, and structures. About 92 of these help show the district's history. Most are buildings, but old mill races, bridges, and parks are also important.
This district is Eaton Rapids' main business area. It's surrounded by the Grand River and several mill races. These waterways create the island itself. While it's mostly for businesses, there are also old factories, homes, and public buildings. The streets are usually in a grid pattern. They have wide sidewalks, and buildings are set back about 15 feet.
Types of Buildings You'll See
The main business buildings are usually one to four storefronts wide. They are one to three stories tall. In the northern part of the district, you'll find industrial buildings. An example is the old Horner Mill complex.
At the southern end, there are two very noticeable buildings. One is the First Congregational Church. The other is the Red Ribbon Hall. This hall was an important community center. The district also has a post office, old houses, and school buildings.
The buildings show many different styles of architecture. You can see Gothic Revival and Second Empire styles. There are also Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, and Colonial Revival buildings. Some are Neoclassical, and later ones are Commercial Brick or Craftsman/Bungalow styles.
Important Historic Buildings
Here are some of the most important buildings in the district:
First Congregational Church
- Location: 300 South Main Street
- About: This church was built in 1877-78. It replaced an earlier church that burned down. It's a brick building in the Gothic Revival style. It has a tall, pointed roof and a tall, eight-sided tower with a bell tower at the top. The front has a large Gothic window that goes up into the roof. Each side of the church has three smaller pointed-arch windows. You enter through red double doors up a set of steps.
Red Ribbon Hall
- Location: 314 South Main Street
- About: This is a large, two-story building with a flat roof. It was built in 1878-79. The Eaton Rapids Temperance Reform Club built it for their meetings. It was also used for other public events. In 1924, it became the city's Masonic Temple. It's made of light tan brick with red brick stripes for decoration.
Michigan State Bank
- Location: 149 South Main Street
- About: This building was constructed in 1886. It's in the Queen Anne commercial style. The front has three parts. There are arched entrances at each end and a store window in the middle. Square iron posts separate these sections. The second floor has a shallow bay window. This window has round columns with fancy tops. A large metal decoration sits at the very top of the building.
Leonard Block
- Location: 139-45 South Main
- About: This is a three-story building from 1866. It's in the Italianate commercial style. It's as wide as four storefronts. There's an upstairs entrance between each pair of storefronts. The upper floors have round-arch windows. These windows have raised brick caps with stone pieces called keystones.
Horner Mill Complex
- Location: 224 North Main Street
- About: This complex includes six main buildings. The first ones were built in 1890 and 1909. These buildings show the history of industry in Eaton Rapids.
Images for kids
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State Street Dam looking downriver
