Main Street Historic District (Milan, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Main Street Historic District
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West end of district, looking east
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3-153 E. Main, 1-41 W. Main, and 8 Park Lane, Milan, Michigan |
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| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Built | 1878 |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, International Style, Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 99000434 |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 1999 |
The Main Street Historic District is a special area in Milan, Michigan. It's known for its old buildings, mostly shops and businesses. You can find these buildings on East Main Street, West Main Street, and Park Lane.
This district is unique because it crosses a county line! Some buildings are in Washtenaw County, Michigan, and others are in Monroe County, Michigan. In 1999, this historic area was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important place worth preserving.
Discovering Milan's Past: A Brief History
Milan began as a small settlement way back in 1830. It was built near the Saline River and an old "plank road." A plank road was a special road made of wooden planks. People used to pay a small fee, called a toll, to use it. This money helped keep the road in good shape.
Because of this busy plank road, Milan quickly grew into a lively town. A post office opened in 1833. Soon after, a sawmill (for cutting wood) and a flour mill (for grinding grain) were built. These mills later became part of Henry Ford's "village industries." The town's first school welcomed students in 1837.
One of the very first stores in the downtown area was the Ellis Building. It was built in 1845 by Elijah Ellis. Sadly, big fires damaged many buildings in the commercial district in 1891 and 1893. But the town rebuilt and continued to thrive!
Exploring Historic Buildings in the District
The Main Street Historic District is mostly filled with commercial buildings. These are places where people bought and sold goods. But the district also has other interesting structures. These include buildings that were once a hotel, a city hall (for town meetings), a fire station, a post office, a church, and even a hospital. Let's look at some of the most important ones:
The Stimpson Hotel/Danube Inn (24 W. Main)
The Stimpson Hotel was built in 1901 by Walter Stimpson. It was a grand place where travelers could stay. Sadly, a fire destroyed this historic hotel in 2011.
The Ellis Building (12 E. Main)
The Ellis Building was constructed by Elijah Ellis in 1845. This makes it the oldest building in the entire historic district! Imagine all the history it has seen.
Dr. Pyle's Home and Hospital (52 E. Main)
This building was constructed in 1906 by Dr. Emmet Pyle. He used it as his home, his medical office, and even a small hospital. It's a great example of how doctors used to work and live in the same place.
The Milan Post Office (123 E. Main)
The current post office building was officially opened in 1959. It's where people send and receive letters and packages.
Old Village Hall and Fire Station (153 East Main Street)
This building was completed in 1897. It was the very first building in Milan built specifically for the town's government. The fire department used the ground floor for their equipment. Town offices were located on the second floor. Today, this historic building is home to the Milan Area Historical Society. They help preserve and share Milan's history.
Marble Memorial United Methodist Church (8 Park Lane)
The first stone for the Marble Memorial United Methodist Church was laid in 1888. It was originally called the Methodist Episcopal Church. Over the years, the church has grown. A large addition was built in 1955. An education wing was added between 1964 and 1965. The church also had a major update in 1982.
