Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District
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West side of Main, looking south, 2017
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Mosher, Franklin, Illinois & Washington Sts, Mount Pleasant, Michigan |
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| Area | 15.73 acres (6.37 ha) |
| Architectural style | Commercial, Late Victorian, Italianate, Art Deco, International Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 14001043 |
| Added to NRHP | December 15, 2014 |
The Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District is a special area in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, filled with old and interesting buildings. It's roughly located between Mosher, Franklin, Illinois, and Washington Streets. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 because of its important history and unique architecture.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Downtown Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant started as a small town in 1860. It was chosen as the main town for Isabella County. The very first store opened in 1864. Just one year later, the town already had a church, a school, and a newspaper.
Early Growth and Rebuilding After Fires
Over the next ten years, many more businesses opened in the downtown area. In 1875, Mount Pleasant became a village. Sadly, a big fire that same year destroyed almost the entire downtown. But the people quickly rebuilt. They started using brick instead of wood for new buildings. Another fire happened in 1882, which led to building a fire station.
By this time, the downtown area had grown. It included the block on Broadway between Court and Main Streets. It also stretched along Main Street. In the 1880s, the town got important public services like water and electricity. New churches were also built. Two famous buildings, the Bennett Hotel and Upton Opera House, were built in the early 1880s.
Becoming a City and the Oil Boom
By 1884, about 2,000 people lived in Mount Pleasant. In 1889, it officially became a city. A second large hotel was built in 1891. More important brick buildings were added to the downtown area into the 1900s.
After 1900, the streets started to look different. Concrete sidewalks and brick-paved streets were installed. Streetlights also appeared. When the Great Depression hit the country, Mount Pleasant was lucky. Oil fields were discovered nearby, which helped the local economy. This "oil boom" brought a lot of money to the city in the 1930s. The good times continued even after World War II.
Modern Changes to the Downtown Area
In the 1950s, many older buildings in the district got a new, more modern look. Later in the century, the streets changed again. They were paved with asphalt. Traffic flow was also changed, and sidewalks were redesigned. New planters, benches, and old-style light posts were added. These changes helped make the downtown area what it is today.
What the Downtown District Looks Like Today
The Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District is in the center of Mount Pleasant. It's focused around the intersection of Broadway and Main Streets. The district covers about eight city blocks.
Buildings and Architectural Styles
There are 70 buildings in the district. They were built between the 1870s and the 1950s. Most buildings are close to each other and the sidewalk. They are mainly brick commercial buildings. Most are one or two stories tall, but a few have three stories.
Because buildings were rebuilt after fires or other reasons, you can see many different styles. The main styles are Italianate and Commercial brick. You can also find some Late Victorian, Art Deco, and International Style buildings.
Notable Old Buildings and Theaters
The oldest buildings are Italianate style. They were built right after the 1875 fire. Some of these, like the Doughty and Carr and Granger Blocks (100-108 East Broadway), have been changed over time. The Upton Opera House/Isabella County State Bank (200 East Broadway) is another example.
However, the 1877 Fancher Block (101-103 E. Broadway) still looks very important. The 1879 building at 130 S. Main and buildings from 205 to 217 South Main are also very old and special.
Other important Late Victorian buildings were built around 1900. These include the Chatterton Block at 118 East Broadway. Also, the Thompson and Dusenbury blocks (111-119 East Broadway) and the Foster Furniture Company (102-106 South Main) are from this time. These buildings often have more classic details. They also have large plate glass windows on the first floor.
As the 1910s and 1920s came, buildings were built more in the Commercial Brick style. Many buildings in the district show this style. Mount Pleasant also has two special Art Deco buildings, both theaters. The 1920 Broadway Theater on East Broadway has a cool Art Deco sign from the 1930s. The 1937 Ward Theater on South Main has a shiny Art Deco front made of porcelain enamel.
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Main Street, looking south, around 1910
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Main Street, looking north, around 1910
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Main Street, looking south, around 1923
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Broadway Theatre, south side of Broadway, 2017
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Southwest corner of Broadway and Main, 2017
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South side of Broadway, looking east, 2017
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Southeast corner of Michigan and University, 2017
