Morse–Scoville House facts for kids
The Morse–Scoville House, also known as the Bela and Jennie Hutchinson Scoville House, is a special old house located at 685 South Washington Street in Constantine, Michigan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, which means it's an important building worth protecting because of its history and design.
Quick facts for kids |
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Morse–Scoville House
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 685 S. Washington, Constantine, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1865 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000801 |
| Added to NRHP | July 25, 1996 |
Contents
A Look Inside History: The Morse–Scoville House
This historic house has a rich past, connected to important people in the town of Constantine. It shows us what homes looked like and how families lived many years ago.
Who Lived Here? A House's Story
The Morse–Scoville House has been home to several interesting people. Its story begins in the mid-1800s with a doctor who was very involved in his community.
Dr. Morse and the Early Days
The house was built around 1864 or 1865 for Dr. Francis J. Morse. He was a doctor who also owned a drugstore in Constantine. Dr. Morse was an active member of the community. He served as a school trustee from 1859 to 1862. He also helped start the First State Bank in 1864. Dr. Morse bought the land for the house in 1864 and had the house built soon after. In 1878, he sold the property to Mary E. Eacker.
The Scoville Family's Home
In 1881, the house was sold to Jennie H. Scoville. Jennie was married to Dr. Bela P. Scoville. Dr. Scoville was a veteran of the American Civil War. After the war, he studied medicine at the University of Michigan and finished in 1868. He started his medical practice in Mottville. He married Jennie Hutchinson there in 1880.
After they got married, Bela and Jennie Scoville moved to Constantine and made this house their home. They lived here for many years. Dr. Bela Scoville passed away in 1917, and Jennie passed away in 1936. They had one son, Charles T. Scoville. The house stayed in the Scoville family until 1974, almost 100 years!
What Does the House Look Like?
The Morse–Scoville House is a beautiful example of a style called Italianate architecture. This style was popular in the mid-1800s.
The house has an L-shape and is two stories tall. It has a special roof called a hipped roof. There's also a smaller, one-story addition at the back with a gable roof. The outside of the house is covered with weatherboard, which are long, thin wooden boards. A square tower-like structure called a cupola sits on top of the main roof.
A porch runs all the way across the front of the house. The windows are tall and have a rounded, arched shape at the top. Each window has two panes of glass on the top part and four panes on the bottom part. These details make the house unique and show off its Italianate style.
