Military Road Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Military Road Historic District
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Military St. and Huron Ave., from Court St. to Bard St., Port Huron, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Architect | R., Casler, C.M. Butterfield, et al |
| Architectural style | Art Deco, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001059 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1998 |
The Military Road Historic District is a special area in Port Huron, Michigan, filled with old buildings that tell stories about the city's past. It's located along Military Street and Huron Avenue, stretching from Court Street to Bard Street. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 because of its important history and unique buildings.
Contents
History of the District
Early Days and Growth
The area where Port Huron is today was not very populated until 1814. That's when Fort Gratiot was built. After the fort, land nearby was measured out and sold. In 1821, an inn opened on what is now Quay Street. Then, in 1825, James Cook started a store near the Black River. By 1830, a small town was growing in this area.
Big changes happened in 1833. The Black River Steam Saw Mill Company opened, helping the town grow. Also, the Fort Gratiot Military Road was finished. This road connected Fort Gratiot all the way to Detroit. At the same time, the first bridge was built across the Black River.
Port Huron's Boom Years
The 1830s saw land prices in Port Huron go up quickly. Many new people moved to the town. By 1840, over 1,000 people lived in Port Huron. It became a village in 1849 and a city in 1857. By 1864, more than 4,000 people called Port Huron home. The city's economy grew mostly because of the lumber trade.
During this time, the first business buildings were constructed in the district. These were often simple, wooden buildings, one or two stories tall. Many of them were later replaced with stronger brick buildings as people had more money. However, one of these early wooden buildings, from the 1840s or 1850s, is still standing at 405 Quay Street.
New Industries and Architecture
By 1870, the lumber business started to slow down. But Port Huron found new ways to grow. Manufacturing (making things) and tourism (people visiting) became important. This made the city's economy strong and diverse. Merchants began building impressive brick buildings, many with beautiful designs.
One of the first brick buildings was the Dowling Block, built in 1864 at 106-108 Huron. It's the oldest known brick building in the city. By 1900, Port Huron's population had grown to over 19,000 people. Many large buildings had been built throughout the downtown area.
The 20th Century and Beyond
In the 1900s, cars changed how people traveled and how businesses worked. Some important buildings were built in downtown Port Huron. For example, after the St. Clair Hotel burned down in 1903, new buildings replaced it. Old stables were also changed into new businesses.
At first, Port Huron's businesses did very well. But after World War II, many new stores and developments started to appear outside the downtown area. One big exception was the McMorran Memorial Auditorium, built in 1959-60. It was designed by the famous architect Alden Dow.
In the 1970s, a project called "urban renewal" happened. A large part of downtown was torn down and replaced with newer buildings. While many historic buildings were lost, this project also made the waterfront easier to reach. This helped tourism and made the remaining downtown area stronger.
Exploring the District
The Military Road Historic District covers most of Port Huron's main business area. It follows the old military road that led to Fort Gratiot. The district is centered around the Black River. It has 74 buildings that are important to its history. There are also 24 newer buildings that are not considered historic.
Most of the buildings are commercial, meaning they are for businesses. They face Military Street (north of the river) and Huron Avenue (south of the river). A few old warehouse buildings and some social or religious buildings are also part of the district.
Here are some of the important buildings you can find:
- Dowling Block (106-108 Huron Avenue): This building is shaped like a flatiron. It was built just before 1864 and is the oldest structure in downtown. The ground floor has changed a lot, but the upper floors look much like they did originally. They have evenly spaced arched windows with brick tops.
- Howard Block (201-205 Huron Avenue): Built in 1874, this building was designed by Julius Hess. It is so important that it is listed separately on the National Register. It stands at the corner of Huron and Quay.
- Supreme Tent of the Knights of the Maccabees (525-27 Huron Avenue): The first building for the Maccabees here was a two-story structure finished in 1893. The group quickly needed more space. So, they planned a larger building that included the original one. The current four-story building was finished in 1900. It has a unique Moorish-style decoration on the outside.
- Henry McMorran Memorial Auditorium (701 McMorran Boulevard): This auditorium was built in 1958-59. It was designed by architect Alden Dow. The McMorran Foundation, set up after Henry McMorran passed away, gave it to the city.
- Harrington Hotel (1026 Military Street): The five-story Harrington Hotel opened in 1896 with a lot of excitement. It is also listed separately on the National Register.
- 405 Quay Street: This small building has a "false front," meaning its front looks taller than the rest. It's the only wooden building left in the area. It might even be the oldest building in the whole district! Today, it has a bar on the first floor and homes above.
- American Legion Post (1026 Sixth Street): This building started as the fancy John Johnson home. It was built in the Second Empire style. Later, it was greatly changed and added to, becoming the American Legion Post.
- Carnegie Center (1115 Sixth Street): This building was originally the Port Huron Public Library. It was built in 1903-04 with money donated by Andrew Carnegie. It's a two-story building in the Beaux-Arts style. Now, it is the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History.
