West Side Historic Residential District facts for kids

The West Side Historic Residential District is a special neighborhood in Saginaw, Michigan. It's a collection of old and beautiful homes that show how people lived long ago. This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 because of its important history and unique buildings. It covers about 91.7 acres and is roughly located between Mason, Madison, Harrison, and Lyon Streets.

How the West Side Neighborhood Grew

This historic district grew up around the area where Fort Saginaw used to be. This fort was an important place, and a business area started to develop nearby. A few houses were built in this neighborhood by 1850. About 40 more homes were added by 1870.

Most of the neighborhood's growth happened between 1870 and 1890. Some more buildings were constructed after the year 1900. The neighborhood has a mix of both large and smaller houses. The first people who lived here were all quite wealthy. However, very rich lumber and land owners lived right next to professionals and skilled workers.

What You'll Find in the District

The West Side Historic Residential District has 349 buildings in total. Out of these, 325 buildings help show the neighborhood's historical look. Almost all of these buildings are houses. There are only three business buildings and two churches included in the district.

The homes here range from simple designs to very fancy ones. You can see different architectural styles, such as Italianate, Queen Anne, Classical Revival, and Greek Revival homes.

Important Homes in the District

Here are some of the special houses you can find in the West Side Historic Residential District:

• George Bullock House (213 South Granger): This house was built in 1858. It was for George Bullock, who was the second mayor of Saginaw City. After Bullock passed away in 1861, the house was sold. It was bought by C.T. Brenner, who owned the Shakespeare Hotel. This house is built in the Italianate style.
• 821 Ames: This house was built in 1867. It is a simple, two-story house also built in the Italianate style.
• Charles Bauer House (1021 Court): This home was built in 1893 for Charles Bauer. His father, Peter Bauer, was a grocer and helped start Bauer Brothers Clothing. This house is a beautiful three-story home in the Queen Anne style.
• John Stenglein House (803 Adams): This house was built in 1894 for John Stenglein. He owned the Saginaw Showcase Company, which sold furniture. John Stenglein first built a house on this spot in 1854. In 1894, he moved that first house to the lot next door (now 809 Adams). Then, he built this new house in its place. This house mixes styles from both Queen Anne and Georgian Revival designs. It is a three-story wooden house.
• Edgar Church House (1008 Hancock): This house was built in 1895 for Edgar Church, who was an industrialist. It is a large Queen Anne style house. The first floor is made of brick. The second floor has narrow wooden siding. The triangular parts at the top of the house have decorative fish scale shingles.
• Clarence Brand House (129 South Granger): This house was built in 1916 for Clarence Brand. He was the president of the Brand and Hardin Milling Company. Brand had bought the original house on this spot, which was built in 1877. In 1916, he tore it down to build this new house. It is a two-and-a-half-story home in the Georgian Revival style.
• 715 Court: This house was built in 1924. It is a great example of the Prairie School style. It has roofs that hang over the edges, a wide and flat look, a low hip roof, and an outside covered in stucco.