National Register of Historic Places

Davidson, Wilbur F., House

Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan
Listed
October 4, 1972
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
72001306

About this property

The Wilbur F. Davidson House is a private house located at 1707 Military Street in Port Huron, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Wilbur F. Davidson was born in Adrian in 1852. He graduated from Howell High School in 1870, and in 1882 he opened a large dry goods store in Port Huron. In 1883 Davidson installed an electric light plant in his store. It was the first such plant in St. Clair County, and proved so successful that Davidson soon organized the Port Huron Light and Power Company, and turned his efforts from dry goods to the electricity business. Over the rest of his life, Davidson organized a number of power companies and electric railways, and branched into other real estate and financial businesses in Port Huron. In 1890, Davidson constructed this house for his family. He lived there until his death in 1912, after which his daughter Cornelia moved in with her husband, Alfred West. They lived there until Alfred's death in 1950. Don Hampton purchased the house in 1951. In 1970, preservationists sought to restore the house, and renovations continued during the early 1970s. The Wilbur F. Davidson House is a two and one-half story frame Queen Anne house. The first floor has clapboard siding, and scalloped shingles are above. Raised wood decorations on the gables creates a half-timbered effect. It has 23 rooms, including a card room and basement billiard room. There are seven fireplaces in the house. The original trim is still extant, and includes walnut, butternut, oak, and cherry woods. The floors are hardwood throughout. The foyer is beamed and paneled, and contains a prominent staircase with serpentine balusters.

Location

1707 Military St.
Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan
42.96531, -82.42505

Categories

ENGINEERINGARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

USCGC BRAMBLE (cutter)
Industrial
0.2 mi
Harrington Hotel
Industrial
0.5 mi
St. Clair River Tunnel
Industrial
0.5 mi
Federal Building
Early Republic
0.7 mi
Howard Block
Industrial
0.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Davidson, Wilbur F., House listed on the National Register?

Davidson, Wilbur F., House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 4, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Davidson, Wilbur F., House?

Davidson, Wilbur F., House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Davidson, Wilbur F., House?

The period of significance for Davidson, Wilbur F., House is recorded as the industrial era.

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