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Ithaca Downtown Historic District (Ithaca, Michigan)

The Ithaca Downtown Historic District is a commercial historic district located on East Center Street, between Main and Pine River, in Ithaca, Michigan (covering 100-168 and 101-161 East Center Street).[2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.[1]

Ithaca Downtown Historic District
South side of Center Street
Location100-168 and 101-161 E. Center St., Ithaca, Michigan
Coordinates43°17′30″N 84°36′24″W / 43.29167°N 84.60667°W / 43.29167; -84.60667
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built1875 (1875)
ArchitectOliver M. Hidden
Architectural styleLate Victorian
NRHP reference No.05001510[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 21, 2005

History edit

Ithaca was founded in 1855; development of the new settlement began the next year when it was selected as the county seat of the newly formed Gratiot County. The first commercial enterprise, located just west of this district, was John Jeffery's store, built in 1856. In 1860 a hotel was built at the corner of Main and Center (within this district), and by 1869 the block was filled with one- to three- story wooden commercial buildings. Ithaca was incorporated as a village in 1869. In the 1870s, brick buildings were constructed in the district; the first one being the 1875 Richardson & Weatherwax grocery store.[2]

In 1882 a railroad was built into the village. This spurred both agricultural development in the surrounding area, but also industrial development in Ithaca itself. Fires in 1888 and 1890 destroyed some of the earlier wooden buildings which were replaced with brick. A 1905 fire destroyed the last of the earlier wooden buildings, and a new building was erected the following year. Except for the 1920s-era gas station, and a 1988 building erected on the site of a 1987 fire which destroyed one of the historic buildings, the Ithaca Downtown Historic District looks much as it did in 1906.[2]

Description edit

The district includes 20 buildings, 18 of which were constructed in the 1875-1906 period.[2][3] The buildings are predominantly red brick Late Victorian structures, and stand side-by-side in a single block along Center Street. The block is divided by a narrow alley running perpendicular to Center, separating each side of the street into two halves.

The largest commercial building in the district, the three-story, three-storefront J. Jeffery & Sons Block, stands at the southwest corner of Center and Main Streets. Three more commercial buildings stand next to the Jeffery Block, spanning the space to the alley. These three buildings exhibit interesting contrasting designs, with massive rockface fieldstone masonryon one, pointy stone "Gothic" incised window caps and a finial-capped metal cornice on another, and mixed red and yellow-buff brickwork on the third. On the north side of the street, a former gas station stands at the corner, followed by a row of two-story buildings, running west to the alley. These buildings exhibit a broad variety of architectural styles in 1890s commercial buildings, with different types and shapes of brick, brickwork piers, and brick paneling in various shapes. Many use terra cotta, and exhibit a variety of window shapes and sizes.[2]

West of the alley on the south side is a 1988 building constructed in a style that complements its neighbors. Nearby is another Late Victorian three-storefront block, with an elaborate bracketed iron cornice. On the north side of the street, four buildings west of the alley retain a generally high degree of integrity. The first building is the oldest in the district, dating from 1875. It has Gothic-arch second-story windows with paneled brickwork, and retains its original iron storefront columns. Next door is a stone-front building with narrow windows.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Robert O. Christensen (August 2005), Ithaca Downtown Historic District, National Park Service
  3. ^ Brief Overview of the History of Ithaca, Michigan, City of Ithaca, Michigan, retrieved December 20, 2013

Gallery edit

ithaca, downtown, historic, district, ithaca, michigan, ithaca, downtown, historic, district, commercial, historic, district, located, east, center, street, between, main, pine, river, ithaca, michigan, covering, east, center, street, listed, national, registe. The Ithaca Downtown Historic District is a commercial historic district located on East Center Street between Main and Pine River in Ithaca Michigan covering 100 168 and 101 161 East Center Street 2 It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 1 Ithaca Downtown Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtSouth side of Center StreetShow map of MichiganShow map of the United StatesLocation100 168 and 101 161 E Center St Ithaca MichiganCoordinates43 17 30 N 84 36 24 W 43 29167 N 84 60667 W 43 29167 84 60667Area4 acres 1 6 ha Built1875 1875 ArchitectOliver M HiddenArchitectural styleLate VictorianNRHP reference No 05001510 1 Added to NRHPDecember 21 2005 Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 References 4 GalleryHistory editIthaca was founded in 1855 development of the new settlement began the next year when it was selected as the county seat of the newly formed Gratiot County The first commercial enterprise located just west of this district was John Jeffery s store built in 1856 In 1860 a hotel was built at the corner of Main and Center within this district and by 1869 the block was filled with one to three story wooden commercial buildings Ithaca was incorporated as a village in 1869 In the 1870s brick buildings were constructed in the district the first one being the 1875 Richardson amp Weatherwax grocery store 2 In 1882 a railroad was built into the village This spurred both agricultural development in the surrounding area but also industrial development in Ithaca itself Fires in 1888 and 1890 destroyed some of the earlier wooden buildings which were replaced with brick A 1905 fire destroyed the last of the earlier wooden buildings and a new building was erected the following year Except for the 1920s era gas station and a 1988 building erected on the site of a 1987 fire which destroyed one of the historic buildings the Ithaca Downtown Historic District looks much as it did in 1906 2 Description editThe district includes 20 buildings 18 of which were constructed in the 1875 1906 period 2 3 The buildings are predominantly red brick Late Victorian structures and stand side by side in a single block along Center Street The block is divided by a narrow alley running perpendicular to Center separating each side of the street into two halves The largest commercial building in the district the three story three storefront J Jeffery amp Sons Block stands at the southwest corner of Center and Main Streets Three more commercial buildings stand next to the Jeffery Block spanning the space to the alley These three buildings exhibit interesting contrasting designs with massive rockface fieldstone masonryon one pointy stone Gothic incised window caps and a finial capped metal cornice on another and mixed red and yellow buff brickwork on the third On the north side of the street a former gas station stands at the corner followed by a row of two story buildings running west to the alley These buildings exhibit a broad variety of architectural styles in 1890s commercial buildings with different types and shapes of brick brickwork piers and brick paneling in various shapes Many use terra cotta and exhibit a variety of window shapes and sizes 2 West of the alley on the south side is a 1988 building constructed in a style that complements its neighbors Nearby is another Late Victorian three storefront block with an elaborate bracketed iron cornice On the north side of the street four buildings west of the alley retain a generally high degree of integrity The first building is the oldest in the district dating from 1875 It has Gothic arch second story windows with paneled brickwork and retains its original iron storefront columns Next door is a stone front building with narrow windows 2 References edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service November 2 2013 a b c d e f Robert O Christensen August 2005 Ithaca Downtown Historic District National Park Service Brief Overview of the History of Ithaca Michigan City of Ithaca Michigan retrieved December 20 2013Gallery edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ithaca Downtown Historic District Ithaca Michigan nbsp North side of Center Street nbsp Center Street looking west Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ithaca Downtown Historic District Ithaca Michigan amp oldid 1169119401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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