Guides describe life in the 1800's at Heritage House, the 1874 home of John G. Garber Historical Society Holds Annual Home Tour
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The Bay County Historical Society held its annual Tour of Homes on Sunday, October 14. Seven area homes plus the Bay County Building were on this year's tour. "This has been one of our best received tours", said Judy Jeffers, event chairman. "We've had to take extra tickets to a number of the sites."
Homes and buildings on the tour are of historic significance to Bay City. The Historical Society, which operates the Historical Museum of Bay County at 321 Washington, next door to City Hall, provided the information for this article. The Society was founded in 1919 to rescue and preserve the disappearing past of the area. Today the downtown museum houses a major gallery feature named "Bay County: Trails Through Time" as well as many rotating exhibits, research facilities, and historical programs.
Heritage Homestead Farm was built in 1874 by John G. Garber. The original 67 acre farm is now home to Essexville's Garber High School and Cramer Junior High. The house is owned by the Essexville-Hampton Board of Education and is operated as a Museum by the Heritage House Foundation. The house is furnished as it would have been in the 1800's and is used for educational purposes. Among the furnishing is Essexville's first piano.
Located at 814 N. Monroe St., the George H. Shearer home has been restored by local attorney Edward Czuprynski. Built in 1876, the home is of the formal symmetrical design of the Second Empire Style. The house is now called the Bay Justice Building and houses Mr. Czuprynski's office on the first floor. When restoration is complete Czuprynski plans to make the second and third floor his residence.
Keswick Manor at 1800 Center Ave. was built in 1896 as the home of Robert Bousfield who was Vice President of the Bousfield Woodenware Works. The 4,800 square foot Georgian Revival home is largely unchanged from it's original form. The home features original lights and woodwork including a massive oak front door. Owners Graham and Chris Chesney purchased the home in 2006 and operate it as a bed and breakfast.
Debbie Howland's home at 1720 Sixth Street was built in 1904 by George E. Wedthoff who was registrar of deeds in Bay County at the time. The property was part of an 1854 addition of Lower Saginaw owned by several important Bay City founders including one time presidential candidate James G. Birney. The home features many antiques including a 1915 grandfather clock originally purchased in Saginaw.
Patti Hoogland's home at 2110 Fifth Street is an original Aladdin bungalow from around 1910. The Aladdin Company was a pioneer in the pre-cut kit home industry and many examples of these homes are found in Bay City. The Hoogland's have owned the house since 1969 and raised their family there. Some of the original Aladdin features have changed but the home remains a faithful example of one of Bay City important early industries.
The home at 2150 Third is a newly built modular construction that recreates the Clare Murphy family home that originally stood on the property. Owned by Murphy's granddaughter Amy Rushman and Kim Brissette, the home features much of the salvaged trim from the original home, salvaged windows, doors and restored flooring. Many Murphy family antiques furnish the home.
The 2275 Carroll Road home of Andreas and Tracy Teich was built in 1939 by architect and Bay City native Joseph Goddeyne. It is considered one of the best examples of Moderne-style architecture in Michigan. Goddeyne worked throughout Michigan but is best known for his Bay City commissions including the Bay County Building, Holy Trinity Church and others. The Teich home is a unique example of the moderne style of the 30's and 40's.
The eight story Bay County Building is a landmark of the community. Designed by Joseph Goddeyne, the Art Deco limestone structure was built in 1932 to 1934. The interior features wonderful woodwork and marble found in government buildings of the era. The elevator doors feature large brass relief maps of Bay County. Today the building is home to most of Bay County government and until recently housed the Circuit Court. The Clerk's office on the first floor houses city directories back to the 1870's and birth, death, marriage and court records dating back to the 1850's.
The annual Tour of Homes is a wonderful way to see some of the area's historic structures in one day. Throughout the year the Historical Museum is open to tell the story of the community's proud history through exhibits and historical programs.
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Stephen Kent |
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