National Register of Historic Places

Michels, John J., House

Houghton, Houghton County, Michigan
Listed
August 4, 1991
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
91001018

About this property

The John J. Michels House is a private house located at 1121 E. Houghton Avenue in Houghton, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1989 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. John J. Michels was born in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, the son of Michel and Katherine (Misen) Michels. In 1880, the family moved to Houghton, where the elder Michels worked as a carpenter. John J. Michels attended school until he was 12, then began work in a furniture store. He worked in a mine and a stamping mill, and when he was 17 began carpentering at the Huron Mine. A few years later, he became a contractor and builder, and was responsible for a number of large public and commercial buildings in the area, including Douglas Public School, the Houghton Odd Fellows Hall, Houghton Presbyterian Church, the David Haas Block, St. Ignatius School, Houghton High School, Dollar Bay schools, the Houghton Public Library, the Houghton Flour Mill, the Copper Range Railroad depot at Painesdale, and the Isle Royale School in Portage Township. Michels was also a village trustee and a member of the Houghton County Road Commission. The John Michels House is an asymmetrical, 2+1⁄2-story Queen Anne-style house with a gable and hipped roof. The exterior was originally lapsided with wood siding, but is now covered with cedar shingles. A gabled pediment and conical tower delineate the roofline, and the house is roofed in asphalt shingles. A circular porch wraps around the first story, supported by round wooden columns and accented with beaded spindle work.

Location

1121 E. Houghton Ave.
Houghton, Houghton County, Michigan
47.11941, -88.55725

Categories

COMMERCE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Michels, John J., House

This page lists Michels, John J., House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Michels, John J., House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Shelden, Ransom B., House
Industrial
0.2 mi
College Club House and Gymnasium
Industrial
0.4 mi
Saint Ignatius Loyola Church
Industrial
0.4 mi
Shelden-Dee Block
Industrial
0.5 mi
Douglass House
Industrial
0.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Michels, John J., House listed on the National Register?

Michels, John J., House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 4, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Michels, John J., House?

Michels, John J., House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Michels, John J., House?

The period of significance for Michels, John J., House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Michels, John J., House?

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 Michels, John J., House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Houghton County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Houghton County.

Explore HoughtonCounty ›

More historic places in Michigan

Browse all historic places in Michigan.

View Michiganhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Michigan history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Michiganhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Michels, John J., House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report