National Register of Historic Places

VanderHeyden, William H., House

Ionia, Ionia County, Michigan
Listed
December 28, 1990
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
90001959

About this property

The William H. VanderHeyden House is a private house located at 926 West Main Street in Ionia, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. William H. VanderHeyden was born in 1836 in New York state, and began working in the brick industry. He moved to Ionia in 1864, where he married Emily Wood, the daughter of a brick maker. The next year, VanderHeyden purchased the Ionia brick works of Thomas Cornell, located near this location on Main Street. He expanded the business, winning the contract for the Ionia prison in 1875, and supplying bricks for many of the major homes, churches, and institutions in Ionia. By 1881, VanderHeyden had 45 employees. In 1879, VanderHeyden began work on this house, located directly adjacent to the property that at the time contained his brickyard. Although the builder is unknown, it is likely Captain Lucias Mills, who constructed other prominent houses in Ionia. The house was built using brick from VanderHeyden's yard, and was probably completed in early 1880. VanderHeyden sold his business to his son Fred in 1892, and continued to live in this house until his death in 1910. His wife Emily Wood VanderHeyden lived in it until her death in 1918, after which it passed to Fred VanderHeyden. He lived there until his death in 1952, and his widow Leaner VanderHeyden lived there until her death in 1963. It has been sold to multiple owners since. The VanderHeyden House is a two-story, symmetrical Italianate house constructed of ivory brick on a brick foundation sheathed in sandstone. It measures approximately 53 feet wide by 57 feet deep. The roof is a very low hipped design, with paired brackets supporting the eaves. It has an arched central entrance with two-story slant-sided bay windows to each side. The entrance is reached via wooden steps and a small wooden front porch. A timber-frame summer kitchen, one of two originally constructed, is attached to the rear of the house. According to tradition, the house was designed to be a duplex, with the intention that William and Emily VanderHeyden would occupy one side and their son Fred the other. Thus, on the interior, the center entry hall is flanked on each side by a parlor, dining room, and kitchen.

Location

926 W. Main St.
Ionia, Ionia County, Michigan
42.98104, -85.07953

Categories

INDUSTRYARCHITECTURE
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 VanderHeyden, William H., House

This page lists VanderHeyden, William H., 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 VanderHeyden, William H., House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Ionia Downtown Commercial Historic District
Listed
0.7 mi
Lovell-Webber House
Industrial
0.8 mi
Ionia County Courthouse
Industrial
0.8 mi
Hall-Fowler Memorial Library
Industrial
0.9 mi
Ionia Historic District
Listed
0.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was VanderHeyden, William H., House listed on the National Register?

VanderHeyden, William H., House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 28, 1990.

What type of historic resource is VanderHeyden, William H., House?

VanderHeyden, William H., House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for VanderHeyden, William H., House?

The period of significance for VanderHeyden, William H., House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near VanderHeyden, William H., 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 VanderHeyden, William H., House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Ionia County

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

Explore IoniaCounty ›

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 VanderHeyden, William H., House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report