President Gerald R. Ford Jr. Boyhood Home facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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President Gerald R. Ford Jr. Boyhood Home
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 649 Union Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan |
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| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000073 |
| Added to NRHP | February 27, 1995 |
The President Gerald R. Ford Jr. Boyhood Home is a special house in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It's famous because Gerald R. Ford, who later became a President of the United States, lived here when he was a boy. He lived in this house from 1921 to 1930, between the ages of 8 and 17. President Ford often said this was the home he remembered best from his childhood. This house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Ford Boyhood Home
Early Years in the House
The house at 649 Union Avenue SE was built around 1910. In 1921, Gerald Ford's family moved into this house. They first rented it, and then bought it in 1925. This was an important time in young Gerald's life.
Gerald Ford's School Days
While living in the Union Street house, Gerald Ford went to public schools. He attended Madison School and then South High School. He was very active in sports, especially football. He was an amazing player, earning "All-State" honors as a center. In 1930, during his senior year, he was even the captain of his football team.
A Special Hideaway
The house also held fun memories for Gerald Ford. He and his friends used the garage as their own secret club. Ford remembered it as a "great hideaway." They would hang out there and play games.
The House Today
After the Ford family moved, the house became a private home for other families. It is still a private residence today. In 2013, the outside of the house was carefully painted to look like it did when the Fords lived there.
About the House Design
The Union Street house is a two-and-a-half-story building. It is built in the Colonial Revival style, which means it looks like older American colonial homes. The outside is covered with weatherboard, which are long, overlapping wooden boards.
Key Features of the Home
The house has a rectangular shape. There's a porch that runs across the entire front of the house. At the back, there's a small extension. The roof has gables on the sides, and a wide dormer window on the front. Most of the windows are double-hung, meaning they slide up and down. The attic windows are different, with a fixed center pane and smaller windows on each side that open outwards.
