Winsor and Snover Bank Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Winsor and Snover Bank Building
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Winsor and Snover Bank Building, 2013
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 8648 Lake St., Port Austin, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1884 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000482 |
| Added to NRHP | March 19, 1987 |
The Winsor and Snover Bank Building is a cool old building in Port Austin, Michigan. You can find it at 8648 Lake Street. This building is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Today, it's home to a restaurant called The Bank, 1884.
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Who Were Winsor and Snover?
This building is named after two important people: Richard Winsor and Horace G. Snover. They were partners in law and business.
Richard Winsor's Early Life
Richard Winsor was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1839. When he was 17, his family moved to Michigan. Sadly, his father drowned in Lake Huron in 1860. This meant Richard had to take care of his family. He bought land, cleared it, and started studying law.
Richard Winsor's Political Career
Richard Winsor was very active in politics. He was elected to the Michigan state legislature in 1862 and again in 1864. In 1867, he became a lawyer. He then moved to Port Austin and was elected to the state Senate in 1868. In 1871, he started a law firm with Judge Robert W. Irwin.
Horace G. Snover's Journey
Horace G. Snover was born in Romeo, Michigan, in 1847. He went to the University of Michigan and earned a law degree in 1872. In 1874, he moved to Port Austin. For two years, he was the principal of the local high school.
Forming the Winsor and Snover Partnership
In 1876, Horace Snover bought Judge Irwin's share of the law firm. This is how the partnership of Winsor and Snover began. They became a very important team in the area.
How the Bank Building Started
In 1881, a huge fire called the Thumb fire swept through Michigan. It burned down many parts of four counties. After this disaster, Winsor and Snover started buying a lot of land. By 1884, they owned about 20,000 acres! They used some land for farming and sold the rest to new settlers.
Building a New Home for Business
In 1884, Winsor and Snover built this new building. It was the first new construction in Port Austin since the big fire. They used the ground floor of the building to run their own bank. Their law firm operated from the second floor.
Changes Over the Years
In 1894, Horace Snover bought out Richard Winsor. Snover then took over both the bank and the building. Later, in 1918, a group led by Albert E. Sleeper bought the bank. The bank stayed in the building until 1957, when it moved to a different spot in Port Austin.
What Happened to the Building Next?
From 1957 to 1960, the local library used the building. After that, it was either used for storage or sat empty until 1981. That year, Norman James Levey bought it. He, along with Anthony and Marilyn Berry, started fixing up the building to turn it into a restaurant. The restaurant, called The Bank, 1884, opened in 1984. It's still open today!
What Does the Building Look Like?
The Winsor and Snover Bank Building is a two-story building made of red brick. It has a special style called High Victorian Gothic Revival. It sits on a corner lot, which means it's at the intersection of two streets.
Entrances and Windows
The building has three entrances. One main entrance is right on the corner. Another is at the other end of the front side. The third entrance is on the side of the building. The walls have brick pillars that divide them into sections called bays. There are windows on both the first and second floors. These windows are tall and have rounded tops. They have stone sills and special brick designs above them.
