The home of Pat Drury, 813 N. Sheridan St., a Victorian masterpiece, has the distinction of a famous visitor, 19th Century suffragette Susan B. Anthony.
Historical Society Annual Tour Features Six Homes, City Hall
Pianists, Flutist Featured Entertainment in Several Homes During the Tour
October 12, 2008
By: Dave Rogers
Home tourists, from left, Carolyn Buzzard and Jerry Cole, and Sandy and Grant Urband, pause before entering the home of Dr. Scott and Kerry Baker on Carroll Road.
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers)
Classical music was featured in three of the six homes on the Bay County Historical Society Tour of Homes on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Pianist Paul Kerbyson entertained at 2167 Center Avenue, the 1908 French style home of Guy and Stephanie Moulthrop and artist Jeff Ward displayed some of his works.
Ryan and Tyler Vincent were on the piano at 2230 Groveland, the modernistic 1955 home of Thomas and Mimi LaPorte. The boys are piano students of Mrs. LaPorte.
At 813 N. Sheridan St., the 1883 Victorian home of Pat Drury, Emily Kent was featured on the flute. "Susan B. Anthony slept here" according to the tour guides, since the famed suffragette was a friend of May Stocking Knaggs, who owned the home with her husband John Wesley Knaggs, a prominent local insurance agent.
Other structures on the tour included:
1412 Center Avenue, Simmons Apartments, owned by Jett and Shelley Whitehead. The three-story, grey stucco six unit building is the headquarters of Whitehead Rare Books. Each unit has three fireplaces.
Gerald and Roberta Gracey's 1889 cottage at 1607 Second Street features stained glass windows from the old St. James Catholic Church, that burned in the 1970s.
Dr. Scott and Kerry Baker welcomed tour guests to their 1930s Spanish style bungalow at 2217 Carroll Road. The hacienda features one of the city's earliest swimming pools.
Historic, stately City Hall, built in 1897, also was on display, the Romanesque architecture amazing visitors as always. The massive building once housed the board of education, library, jail and police department as well as city governmental offices. The 180 foot high clock tower is a physical challenge as well as a visual delight for those with courage to climb the nine stories.
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