Smith House (Vassar, Michigan)

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Smith House
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Location113-115 Prospect St., Vassar, Michigan
Coordinates 43°22′19″N83°35′9″W / 43.37194°N 83.58583°W / 43.37194; -83.58583 Coordinates: 43°22′19″N83°35′9″W / 43.37194°N 83.58583°W / 43.37194; -83.58583
Area0 acres (0 ha)
Built1851 (1851)
Built byJames Saunders
NRHP reference # 72000656 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 16, 1972

The Smith House is a private house located at 113-115 Prospect Street in Vassar, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. [1]

Vassar, Michigan City in Michigan, United States

Vassar is a city in Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Founded March 1, 1849. The population was 2,697 at the 2010 census and 2,823 in 2000. The city is located on the western edge of Vassar Township but is politically independent.

National Register of Historic Places federal list of historic sites in the United States

The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance. A property listed in the National Register, or located within a National Register Historic District, may qualify for tax incentives derived from the total value of expenses incurred preserving the property.

Contents

History

Joshua D. Smith was born at Sackett's Harbor, New York in 1821. His parents moved to Michigan in 1825. In 1850, Smith moved to a location about two miles south of what is now Vassar. In 1851 he moved to this location and had this house constructed, the first frame house in Vassar. The house was built for Smith by James Saunders, another Vassar pioneer. [2]

Smith remained in this house and engaged in locating land, farming, and manufacturing until his death in 1883. In 1908, the house was purchased by Howard and Clara Smith (no relation to Joshua D.), who turned the house into a two-family home. In 1914, four porches (two in the front and two in the rear) were added to the house, along with a den, cellar, a new kitchen, and two bathrooms. The Smiths passed it on to their son Howard L. Smith. Howard Smith occupied the house as of 1977. [2] It was later passed on to Harry Smith and his wife Shirley. [3]

Description

The Smith House is a 1-1/2 story house with a tower-like structure on one side. It is constructed of fine corkpine, a native of the Vassar area. The house has a gabled roof, with a partial hip roof on the front and a gabled dormer on the wing. The exterior is painted white and trimmed in green, with plainly trimmed windows. The front porches are supported with square columns. [2]

The interior contains a living room, downstairs bedroom, dining room, and kitchen, and bedrooms upstairs, which are all original construction. A den, cellar, a new kitchen, and two bathrooms were added in 1914. The interior is in excellent condition, and contains a beautiful staircase. [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Linda Contreras (October 18, 1977), NATIONAL REGISTER Of HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM: Smith House
  3. Tom Gilchrist (August 6, 2016). "Coat of honor: New paint will grace historic Vassar home". Tuscola Today.com.