National Register of Historic Places

Wagner's Block

Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan
Listed
October 6, 1971
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
71000385

About this property

Wagner's Block is a historic commercial building located at 143 West Michigan Avenue in Marshall, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Martin V. Wagner arrived in Marshall in 1863 at the age of 18, reportedly penniless. He started clerking at a store, then turned to reading law with a local attorney. By 1870, he had amassed enough wealth that he could construct this commercial block in downtown Marshall. Wagner hired John Mills Van Osdel of Chicago to design this building. Construction was completed in 1871. Over time, the building housed various commercial enterprises on the ground floor, with Wagner's insurance agency on the second floor, and a ballroom/auditorium on the third. Wagner died in 1891. Wagner's Block is a three-story Second Empire commercial building with a mansard roof. It has a heavily ornamented cast iron and limestone facade, with oval windows set into the slate covered mansard roof. Below, windows on the second and third stories are flanked by engaged Corinthian columns supporting heavy window hoods. A balcony projects from the third floor. The facade of the first floor has been modernized with large panes of glass.

Location

143 W. Michigan Ave.
Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan
42.27171, -84.95971

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
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

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Questions about this property

When was Wagner's Block listed on the National Register?

Wagner's Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 6, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Wagner's Block?

Wagner's Block is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Wagner's Block?

The period of significance for Wagner's Block is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Wagner's Block?

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