Judge Robert S. Wilson House

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Judge Robert S. Wilson House
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Judge Robert S. Wilson House
Interactive map showing Judge Robert S. Wilson House
Location126 N. Division St., Ann Arbor, Michigan
Coordinates 42°16′55″N83°44′37″W / 42.28194°N 83.74361°W / 42.28194; -83.74361
Arealess than one acre
Built1839 (1839)
Architectural style Greek Revival
NRHP reference No. 72000663 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 16, 1972

The Judge Robert S. Wilson House, also known as the Wilson-Wahr House, [2] is a private house located at 126 North Division Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. [1]

Contents

History

Robert S. Wilson was an attorney who moved from Allegheny County, New York, to Ann Arbor in 1835. [3] He was Judge of the Washtenaw County Probate court for a year, and served in the Michigan House of Representatives. In approximately 1839, Wilson had this house built on a lot in Ann Arbor. He lived there until 1850, when he moved to Chicago [3] and sold the house to John H. Welles. [4]

Welles is thought to have constructed the rear addition to the house, and made other extensive alterations. [4] It is likely that the middle section was built in 1835, the temple portion was added in 1843, and the kitchen and servants quarters were added in 1850. [5] In 1855, Welles' son Henry moved into the house with his four daughters (Clarissa, Sarah, Mary Fiske, and Susan Holly), [5] after the death of his wife. [2] [5] Henry Welles died in 1860, and the house passed to successive owners. [2] In 1893, the house was sold in a tax sale to George Wahr, and his wife, Emma (Staebler) Wahr. [5] The Wahr family constructed another house next door as their residence, and rented the house to sororities and fraternities. [6] After 20 years, they moved back into the main Wilson-Wahr House. [7] The house passed on to the Wahr's daughter, Natalie Wahr Sallade (who died in 1974), [5] and the Sallades occupied the house until 2002 when it was purchased by Norman and Ilene Tyler. [5]

Greek Revival style facade with Ionic columns. Wilson House Ann Arbor HABS2.jpg
Greek Revival style facade with Ionic columns.

Architecture

The Robert S. Wilson House is a two-story Greek Revival structure constructed of brick with a stucco finish on a stone foundation. [3] Nearly every survey of Michigan architecture has singled out the Wilson House as an outstanding specimen of Neoclassical architecture design. [3] Architect Fiske Kimball attributed its "four study Ionic columns, rising through two stories, with graceful flutes and capitals" to the original Temple of the Wingless Victory at Athens. [5]

The front facade boasts a full-width portico with Ionic fluted shaft columns, and an entryway framed by matching pilasters. Windows have external shutters. A two-story addition on the rear was likely constructed more recently than the main portion of the house. [3]

Interior

Inside, the main section of the house is two parlors deep with a hall containing a stairwell to the side. The rear addition has a side entrance into another stair hall. All the major rooms in the house have fireplaces. [3]

See also

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References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Maldonado, Yvo. "Wilson-Wahr House" . Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Judge Wilson House". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Wenzell, Herbert G. (1936). "Judge R. S. Wilson House" (PDF). Historic American Buildings Survey. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wineberg, Marjorie Reade and Susan (1992). HISTORIC BUILDINGS ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN. ISBN   9781882574001.
  6. ↑ "126 North Division Street". Ann Arbor District Library. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  7. ↑ Arlinghaus, Sandra Lach. "Division Street Historic District" . Retrieved June 16, 2013.
Wilson House and gardens in c.1934 (HABS). Wilson House Ann Arbor HABS1.jpg
Wilson House and gardens in c.1934 (HABS).
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