River Ledge Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
River Ledge Historic District
|
|
Frank Fitzgerald House
|
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Jefferson, Scott, and Lincoln Sts. between Franklin and Maple Sts., Grand Ledge, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001576 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 1987 |
The River Ledge Historic District is a special neighborhood in Grand Ledge, Michigan. It's a historic area with many old homes and buildings along Jefferson, Scott, and Lincoln Streets. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 because of its important history.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
People first started living in the Grand Ledge area in the 1840s. In 1849, a dam and a sawmill were built on the Grand River. Soon after, in 1850, the town's first store opened.
By 1860, about 225 people lived in Grand Ledge. Around this time, the River Ledge Historic District began to grow. Jefferson Street became a very popular place for people to live.
Growing with the Railroad
In 1869, the Ionia and Lansing Railroad came through Grand Ledge. This brought more visitors and new factories to the town. With this new growth, more houses were built in the district. Many successful business owners and factory leaders built their homes here.
Famous Residents
Some important people lived in the River Ledge Historic District. These included:
- Edmund Lamson: He was one of the founders of Grand Ledge and the town's first president.
- Frank D. Fitzgerald: He later became the Governor of Michigan from 1936 to 1939.
- Edward A. Turnbull: He owned the Grand Ledge Chair Company.
- Other residents included hardware store owners, a grocer, a builder, and doctors.
The district continued to grow quickly through the late 1800s. The busiest time for building was between 1895 and 1920. New construction slowed down after that. The last major historic building added was the public library in 1931.
What You'll See Today
The River Ledge Historic District has 282 buildings. Most of these, 235, are considered important to the district's history. Almost all the buildings are single-family homes.
The buildings in this area were built from the 1850s to the 1920s. They show many different styles of architecture, such as:
- Greek Revival
- Gothic Revival
- Italianate
- Queen Anne
- Colonial Revival
- Bungalow/Craftsman
The district also has homes of many important early citizens of Grand Ledge. You can also find several historic church buildings here.
Notable Buildings
Here are some of the interesting buildings you can find in the district:
- Summers House (520 E. Jefferson): Built in 1874, this house has special eaves with paired brackets. It's a great example of Italianate style.
- Edmund Lamson House (405-407 W. Jefferson): This house is shaped like an "L" and has unique Gothic-style windows.
- Sheets-Fitzgerald House (219 W. Jefferson): Built in 1907, this Colonial Revival house has triangular and arched dormer windows. It also features keystones above the windows and a front porch with paneled columns.
- First Baptist Church (now Church of Christ) (205 W. Scott): This brick Gothic church was built in 1874. A tower was added to its corner in 1931.
- First United Methodist Church (411 Harrison): Built in 1911, this brick Gothic church stands on the same spot as an older church from 1874.
- Trinity Episcopal Church (201 E. Jefferson): This brick Gothic church was built between 1911 and 1913 and has a corner tower.
- Free Methodist Church (now First United Methodist Church annex) (406 S. Bridge): Built around 1900, this building has a stucco finish and a corner tower.
- Public Library (131 E. Jefferson): The Ladies Library Association started asking for a library building in 1911. This building was finally finished in 1931. It's a red-brick building in the Renaissance Revival style with a green tile roof. A large section was added to the back in 1958.
