William Reuben Nims House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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William Reuben Nims House
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7156 Huron Ave., Lexington, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000719 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1985 |
The William Reuben Nims House is an old and beautiful home located in Lexington, Michigan. It was built a long time ago, in 1874, and is famous for its special design called Italianate. Because it's so important to history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Contents
Who Was William Nims?
William Reuben Nims was born in 1829 in Richmond, Vermont. When he grew up, he became a salesman. This meant he traveled around selling goods for a local store owner.
Moving to Michigan
During his travels, William met a man named John L. Wood. John Wood was involved in selling goods and also in the lumber business in Sanilac County. He invited William Nims to join his company. So, in 1853, William moved to Lexington, Michigan.
By 1858, William had become such an important part of the business that John Wood made him a partner. This meant William now owned a share of the company. Later, in 1873, another person bought out John Wood's share. This made William Nims the main partner in the business.
Nims's Community Role
William Nims was also very active in his community. In 1856, he married his first wife, Susan B. Greene. Sadly, she passed away six years later.
During this time, William served in local government. He was an Alderman, which is like a city council member. He was also part of the Village Board of Trustees and even became its President. In 1864, he was elected to the Michigan Senate, where he served for two years. In 1872, William married again to Catherine Helena Schell. They had three children together.
Building a Special Home
In 1874, William Nims built this elegant house, which is now known as the William Reuben Nims House. He continued to work until 1880. After that, he retired from his business partnership.
In his retirement, William enjoyed raising horses. He lived in this beautiful house until he passed away in 1903. After his death, the house was owned by several different people. In 1942, Dr. Gwendal George Wilcox bought the house. Like William Nims, Dr. Wilcox also served as the President of the village council.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Nims House is a two-story building made of brick. It is designed in the Italianate style. This style was popular in the mid-1800s and often features decorative details.
Outside the House
The front of the house has three main sections, called bays. The section on the right sticks out a bit from the rest of the house. This part has two rounded arch windows on both the first and second floors. There's also another rounded arch window higher up, near the roof.
The other sections of the front have a main entrance door and a tall window that goes from the floor to the ceiling on the first floor. On the second floor, there are more rounded arch windows. The roofline has fancy, curved decorations called brackets. The sides of the house also have these same detailed Italianate decorations. A smaller, two-story part extends from the back of the house.
Inside the House
When you go inside the Nims House, you find a wide hallway in the middle. On each side of this hall, there are rooms like parlors (living rooms), a study, and a dining room. The kitchen and a pantry are located at the back of the house.
A curved staircase leads you up to the second floor. Upstairs, there are four main bedrooms. There was also a smaller room in the back that was likely for a maid.
