Watrous General Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Watrous General Store
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4607 W. Caro Rd., Watrousville, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1864 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000998 |
| Added to NRHP | October 1, 1974 |
The Watrous General Store is a special old building in Watrousville, Michigan. It used to be a busy store where people bought all sorts of things! It's also been known as the Juniata Township Hall. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, which means it's an important part of history. Today, you can visit it as the Watrousville Museum.
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What is the Watrous General Store?
The Watrous General Store is a two-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and a strong stone foundation. There's also a smaller, one-story part attached to the side. The building is about 40 feet long and 30 feet wide.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The outside of the store looks quite simple. It has a thick wooden trim under the roof and above the front door. The front door is unusually tall and has black metal lights next to it. The windows on the first floor have two panes of glass on top and four on the bottom. Upstairs, the windows have six panes on top and six on the bottom. The windows in the smaller side part have two panes on top and two on the bottom.
History of the Watrous General Store
The story of the Watrous General Store begins with a man named Aaron Watrous. He moved to the area, which is now Watrousville, in 1852. He wanted to make money from the logging business, which means cutting down trees for wood.
How Watrousville Started
In 1853, Aaron Watrous built a sawmill nearby. Soon after, he built a small log house where people could stay, and a simple wooden lean-to. From this lean-to, he started a store. In 1860, Mr. Watrous bought the land where the store now stands. He then planned out the village of Watrousville.
Building the Store
Sometime between 1860 and 1864, Aaron Watrous built the first floor of the Watrous General Store. In 1864, he sold the store and the land to David Philbrick for $300. After the Philbrick family bought it, the building was made bigger to its current size.
What Was Sold Here?
At first, the Philbrick family ran a general store, selling many different items. But by 1875, they changed it into a furniture store. In 1882, the Philbricks sold the building to Juniata Township. The township then used it as their town hall, a place for local government meetings.
The Store Becomes a Museum
In 1972, a group called the Watrousville – Caro Area Historical Society made a deal with the township. They leased the building for 99 years. The Society started to fix up the building, and now it is the Watrousville Museum. It helps people learn about the history of the area!
