Matthew Geary House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Matthew Geary House
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Matthew Geary House
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location | Market St., Mackinac Island, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1846 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000407 |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1971 |
The Matthew Geary House is a historic home located on Market Street in Mackinac Island, Michigan. It was built around 1846 and is made of wood. This house is special because it tells a story about the island's past.
History of the Geary House
The land where this house stands was first planned out in 1811. It was sold to a person named John Ogilvy. Over the next few decades, the land changed owners many times. Even the American Fur Company owned it for a while.
In the mid-1840s, Matthew Geary bought the land. Mr. Geary was an important person on Mackinac Island. He was elected to different jobs that helped run the town. For example, he was chosen as the fish inspector for the island. This meant he checked the quality of fish. He also became a village trustee in 1848. Mr. Geary built this house around 1846.
After Matthew Geary passed away, his family inherited the house. The Geary family owned the house until 1968. Then, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission bought it. They still own it today. In 1971, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, places, and sites that are important in American history.
What the House Looks Like
The Matthew Geary House is a two-story home with a roof that slopes down on the sides. It has a front porch with a railing. There is also a side porch that is closed in, perhaps with windows.
A cool thing about the house is its raised basement. This means the basement is partly above the ground. This design was common on Mackinac Island because of the rocks close to the surface. A part added to the back of the house and the glassed-in side sun porch were not part of the original building. You can get to the basement from outside using a few steps.
Inside the house, the main floor has a central hallway and a staircase. There are four rooms around this hall. The kitchen is in the back on the east side. A room that could be used as a living room or a bedroom is in the front on the east side. On the west side of the hall, there is a large room for both living and dining. The sun porch is located behind this room.
Upstairs, on the second floor, there are four bedrooms. Two bedrooms are on each side of the central hall. A bathroom is located in the part of the house that was added later.
