William Horton Farmhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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William Horton Farmhouse
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| Location | 1647 W. Miller Rd., Morrice, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000711 |
| Added to NRHP | April 10, 1986 |
The William Horton Farmhouse is a historic house located near Morrice, Michigan. It's a special building because it shows off the beautiful Italianate style of architecture. In 1986, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important building that people want to protect and remember.
Contents
History of the Farmhouse
The Horton Family's Start
In 1837, a man named Alanson Horton moved from Connecticut to Shiawassee County, Michigan. By 1841, he bought a farm and brought his family there. He built a wooden house in the 1840s. Farming was tough at first, but by the 1860s, the farm was doing very well.
Alanson's oldest son, William Horton, started helping his father on the farm. But his work was paused when he joined the army during the American Civil War. William fought in the 9th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
William Horton Takes Over
After the war, William came home. By the late 1860s, he took over the family farm and house. He bought out the shares that his brothers and sister had inherited.
William Horton was a very successful farmer. He mainly grew wheat and raised cattle. In 1870 and 1871, he built the new farmhouse that stands today. He continued farming until about 1900.
Changes on the Farm
William's oldest son, George Horton, then took over the farm. Wheat was not as profitable anymore, so George started growing other crops like sugar beets and beans. George Horton passed away in 1948.
His oldest son, Blain Horton, became the next farmer. However, it was becoming harder for small family farms to compete. Blain soon started working for Fisher Body and only farmed part-time, growing corn and hogs. By the 1950s, he was renting out most of the farmland to other farmers. In 1978, the house and land were sold outside of the Horton family.
What the Farmhouse Looks Like
The William Horton Farmhouse is a two-story building shaped like a cube. It also has a smaller, one-and-a-half-story section attached to the side. Both parts of the house are made of wood and covered with horizontal boards called clapboard.
Outside Features
The main two-story part of the house has windows placed evenly on all sides. These windows are tall and narrow, with two panes of glass on the top and two on the bottom. They also have decorative tops that look like small triangular roofs. On the front of the house, there's a special bay window that sticks out, with a sloped roof and decorative columns on its corners.
A porch with a sloped roof wraps around the front and side of the house. It covers the main front door and another door on the side. The windows on this side section are similar to the others, with the same decorative tops.
Inside the House
On the first floor, you'll find two living rooms, the main staircase, and two smaller rooms. These smaller rooms were once used as a sewing room and a nursery for children. The side section of the house contains the kitchen at the back and another smaller living room at the front.
Upstairs, on the second floor, there are four bedrooms. These rooms are arranged around the top of the stairway. There are also several smaller rooms in the half-story section of the side wing.
