William H. VanderHeyden House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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William H. VanderHeyden House
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 926 W. Main St., Ionia, Michigan |
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| Area | 2.7 acres (1.1 ha) |
| Built | 1879 |
| Built by | Capt. Lucias Mills |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001959 |
| Added to NRHP | December 28, 1990 |
The William H. VanderHeyden House is a special old home in Ionia, Michigan. You can find it at 926 West Main Street. This house is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it's a building worth protecting because of its history and unique design.
Contents
History of the VanderHeyden House
Who was William H. VanderHeyden?
William H. VanderHeyden was born in 1836 in New York state. He started working in the brick-making business. Bricks are building blocks made from clay. In 1864, he moved to Ionia, Michigan. There, he married Emily Wood, whose father was also a brick maker.
Building a Business and a Home
The next year, William bought a brick factory in Ionia. It was located near where his house stands today. He made his business much bigger. In 1875, he won a big contract to supply bricks for the Ionia prison. His bricks were used for many important buildings in Ionia. These included homes, churches, and other large places. By 1881, his company had 45 employees.
In 1879, William started building this house. It was right next to his brickyard. We don't know for sure who built the house. But it was probably Captain Lucias Mills. He built other important houses in Ionia. The house was made using bricks from William's own factory. It was likely finished in early 1880.
Family Home for Generations
William VanderHeyden sold his brick business to his son, Fred, in 1892. William continued to live in the house until he passed away in 1910. His wife, Emily, lived there until 1918. After her death, the house went to their son, Fred VanderHeyden. Fred lived in the house until he died in 1952. His wife, Leaner VanderHeyden, lived there until 1963. Since then, the house has been sold to several different owners.
What the VanderHeyden House Looks Like
Outside the House
The VanderHeyden House is a two-story home. It has a balanced, or "symmetrical," design. It was built in the Italianate style. This style was popular in the late 1800s. The house is made of light-colored bricks. Its foundation is brick, covered with sandstone. The house is about 53 feet wide and 57 feet deep.
The roof is low and flat, called a "hipped" roof. It has decorative pairs of brackets under the edges. These brackets help support the roof. The front of the house has a main entrance with an arch over it. On each side of the entrance, there are bay windows. These windows stick out from the house and have three sides. Wooden steps lead up to a small front porch. At the back of the house, there is a small wooden building. This was a "summer kitchen." It was used for cooking in hot weather.
Inside the House
People say that the house was designed to be a "duplex." This means it was meant for two families. The idea was that William and Emily would live on one side. Their son Fred would live on the other. Because of this, the inside of the house is set up in a special way. When you enter, there's a central hallway. On each side of this hall, you'll find a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen.
