Homer Village Historic District
About this property
The Homer Village Historic District is a commercial and residential historic district roughly bounded by Leigh, Burgess, Hamilton, School, and Byron Streets in Homer, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The village of Homer was founded in 1832 when Milton Barney of Lyons, New York purchased land here and constructed a saw mill. Barney hired Oshea Wilder to plat a village along what was then the Territorial Road (now M-60). The original village plat was between Platt, Burgess, Burt, and Byron Streets. A commercial district sprang up along Main Street, particularly around the public square, where Barney built a hotel. The area around Homer gradually became settled by farmers, and by 1856, the village had a population of about 350 people. In 1869/70, a rail line was built through the village, and two more lines were built through Homer in the next 15 years, making the village a transportation hum for the area. A fire in 1876 destroyed nearly all the frame commercial buildings in the downtown area, and subsequent structures were constructed of brick or other fireproof materials. The population was nearly 2000 people by 1890. Construction of new commercial and residential structures to serve this population continued into the 20th century. However, the rise of the automobile affected the village's economy, and growth slowed. The onset of the Great Depression exacerbated the slowdown. The village maintained a population of about 1200 people since that time, limiting additional growth. The Homer Village Historic District contains much of the original plat of the village of Homer, including the two-block core commercial area, with the surrounding residential areas. The district contain 210 buildings and structures, 188 of which contribute to the historic nature of the district. The commercial section is substantially two-story brick commercial buildings. The most distinctive building is the three-story Lyon block. A public square is located at the western end of the commercial district, and the Cortright-Van Patten Mill formerly stood at the other end. The surrounding residential areas contain a mix of brick and frame houses on large lots along tree-lined streets. Architectural styles include Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne, along with simpler vernacular versions of the styles.
Location
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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.
Everything a full report reveals about Homer Village Historic District
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Questions about this property
When was Homer Village Historic District listed on the National Register?
Homer Village Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1996.
What type of historic resource is Homer Village Historic District?
Homer Village Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Homer Village Historic District?
The period of significance for Homer Village Historic District is recorded as the listed era.
Can I research the history near Homer Village Historic District?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Homer Village Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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An Aubrey US report for an address near Homer Village Historic District will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.