South Monroe Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Monroe Street Historic District
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Lake Shore & Michigan Southern depot, c. 1904
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 89-175 and 90-146 S. Monroe St. and 17 Park Ave., Coldwater, Michigan |
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| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Architect | Parker, Marcellus H. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001121 |
| Added to NRHP | July 26, 1990 |
The South Monroe Street Historic District is a special neighborhood in Coldwater, Michigan. It is a collection of old homes and buildings that have been kept in great condition. This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It shows us what homes looked like in Coldwater between the 1850s and 1870s. The district also includes an old train station, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern depot, built in 1883.
Contents
A Look Back: History of South Monroe Street
South Monroe Street was part of the very first plan for Coldwater, made in 1831. However, it didn't really start to grow until around 1850. That year, the Michigan Southern Railroad finished building its train line through Coldwater. The first train station in Coldwater was right at the end of South Monroe Street. This made the area very busy! Soon, small hotels, stables, and factories appeared near the station.
Who Lived Here? Early Residents
After the train station was built, people started building homes along Monroe Street. Many early residents worked nearby. For example, John P. Stuart, who lived at 133 South Monroe, was the station master for the train depot. Ranson E. Hall, at 89 South Monroe, owned a watch and jewelry store close by. Frederick Myers, who lived at 140 South Monroe, owned the City Bakery and Restaurant. These homes were perfect for people who wanted to live close to their jobs.
Changes Over Time: New Buildings and Moves
More new houses were built in the district throughout the 1800s. In 1883, a new and improved train station was built by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway. It replaced the older station from 1850. Interestingly, some houses in the district might have been moved there from other places! For example, the homes at 105 and 108 South Monroe seem to have been moved to their current spots in the early 1900s.
Today, the South Monroe Street Historic District is still important. It has many well-preserved buildings in the Greek Revival and Italianate styles. Train passenger service at the Coldwater depot stopped in 1956. After that, the building was used for freight and a gift shop. Now, it serves as a depot for a steam railway, offering fun rides!
What You'll See: Buildings in the District
The South Monroe Street Historic District has 31 buildings. Most of these were built as homes for single families. The old Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad depot is also part of the district. The houses are mostly made of brick or wood. They are built in the Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne styles. These homes sit on small pieces of land. Four of the properties also have old wooden carriage houses.
Special Homes to Notice
Among the wooden houses, two are quite unique. One is the Queen Anne style home at 104 South Monroe. It has a cool tower, called a turret. The other is the unusual house at 126 South Monroe. This was the home of the architect Marcellus H. Parker. His house has an L-shape with steeply sloped gable roofs. It also features two-story bay windows, which stick out from the house.
The Historic Train Depot
The former Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad depot is a single-story building. It is made of brick and has a Late Victorian style. The brickwork has special patterns called corbelled brickwork. The roof is high and gabled, with wide eaves that hang far over the sides. These eaves are held up by large wooden brackets.
