Richard C. Burtis House facts for kids
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R. C. Burtis House
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Burtis Home, 2012
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Area | 4.4 acres (1.8 ha) |
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| Built | 1879 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000962 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 26, 1975 |
The Richard C. Burtis House, also known as the Wedding Cake House, is a special historic building in Tuscola County, Michigan. It's called the "Wedding Cake House" because of its fancy, decorative look.
This two-story house was built between 1879 and 1880. It was made for Richard C. Burtis, who was a shoemaker and owned land in the area. The house is built in the Second Empire style. This style often includes a special roof called a mansard roof. The Burtis House has many decorations, like fancy brackets and a decorative band (frieze) under its slate roof. A large bay window with a tall, eight-sided tower stands out at the front of the house.
The Burtis home was even featured on the Travel Channel in 2019.
Contents
Who Was Richard C. Burtis?
Richard C. Burtis was born in April 1824, near Troy, New York. When he was very young, he moved with his family to Hoosick Falls, New York. Sadly, his father died when Richard was only five years old.
Richard's mother and family then moved to Troy, New York, for about six years. After that, they moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio. In 1838, they returned to Troy, New York. Richard got a job in a grocery store and worked there for three years.
Richard's Journey to Michigan
After his time at the grocery store, Richard went to Ithaca, New York. There, he learned how to be a shoemaker. He stayed there for three and a half years. For the next fifteen years, he worked as a shoemaker in many cities in the Eastern United States.
In 1855, Burtis visited Michigan for a hunting trip. Two years later, in 1857, he moved to Watrousville, Tuscola County. He continued his shoemaking business there until 1862.
From Shoemaker to Store Owner
In 1862, Richard's brother passed away. Richard then took over a general store with his sister, Sara. After seven years, Richard became the full owner of the store. He ran the store by himself for about thirteen years. He retired from the store business in 1882.
Richard Burtis also served as the postmaster for Watrousville. He held this job for four years, from 1862 to 1866. He married Miss Flora A. Chubb in 1868. She was from Nankin, Wayne County, Michigan.
History of the Burtis House
Richard Burtis bought 40 acres of land for his home around 1870. This land was on one of the highest spots in Tuscola County, Michigan. He built a house there first. However, this original house was taken down in 1879. That's when construction began on the beautiful house we see today.
The new house was finished in 1880. Richard Burtis and his wife lived in this home until he passed away on January 17, 1901. He was 77 years old. After his death, the house was sold to Byron Cole in 1901.
Recognizing Its Importance
The Burtis House was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site on November 15, 1973. This means it's an important historical place in Michigan. Later, on June 26, 1975, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places across the country that are important to American history.
The house also appeared on the first episode of the Travel Channel show Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguest. This episode aired on August 16, 2019.
What Does the Burtis House Look Like?
The Burtis House is a great example of Second Empire style. It is a two-story building made of solid brick. It sits on a strong foundation of stone and concrete. The house is about 65 feet long and 40 feet wide.
It has a special slate roof called a mansard roof. This roof is supported by decorative brackets in the Italianate style. The windows have special moldings above them. The wooden front porch has delicate columns. These columns have detailed, crest-like carvings. There used to be an iron railing on the second story, but it has been removed.
Inside the House
Inside, the Burtis House is very fancy. It has large rooms with high ceilings. The front living room, called the parlor, has beautiful, colorful designs on the edge of the ceiling. It also has a large fireplace made of emerald green marble.
The dining room floor is made of different types of wood. These woods are arranged in alternating light and dark bands. A winding staircase leads up to the second floor. This floor has bedrooms and rooms that were once for servants.
