James H. Murray House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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James H. Murray House
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| Location | 7232 Silver Lake Rd., Linden, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1823 |
| Built by | Philemon C. Murray |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Genesee County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000526 |
| Added to NRHP | November 26, 1982 |
The James H. Murray House is a historic family home located at 7232 Silver Lake Road in Linden, Michigan. This special house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, recognizing its importance.
History of the Murray Family Home
James H. Murray moved from New York State to Washtenaw County, Michigan in 1830. A few years later, in 1836, he moved to the area that is now Genesee County, Michigan. When he arrived, James and his family settled into this very house.
The house itself was built between 1823 and 1835 by Philemon C. Murray. Philemon was likely James's father. In 1836, Philemon officially gave the house to James.
After moving in, James H. Murray became a very important person in the early development of Linden. He built the area's first dam, which helped power mills. He also created the first sawmill (for cutting wood) and gristmill (for grinding grain). James even opened Linden's first store! Later, he started businesses for working with copper and a blacksmith shop, where he shaped metal. Over time, more parts were added to the house in the late 1800s.
Design of the House
The James H. Murray House is a small, one-and-a-half-story home built with a wooden frame. It is designed in the Greek Revival style, which was popular in the early 1800s. This style often looks like ancient Greek temples, with strong, simple shapes.
The front of the house is perfectly balanced. It has a main entrance door in the middle. On each side of the door, there are two large windows with many small glass panes (called "twelve-over-twelve sash windows"). Above the door, there's a small window called a transom.
The top of the house features a wide, flat band called a frieze. Above that is a decorative border known as a boxed cornice. The parts added to the house later on match the original style, so everything looks like it belongs together. The entire house has been carefully restored to its original beauty.
