Photo essay shows the history and beauty behind some of Mount Pleasant’s most interesting homes

Mt. Pleasant is home to a wide variety of architectural styles – from Colonial Revival to French Chateau to Mid-century modern and many others. This photo essay takes readers on a tour of some of the most interesting homes in the city, showing the history and artistry behind the architecture many walk or drive by each day.

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May 21, 2020
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Quinn Kirby – 301 East High Street is built in the colonial revival style and Michelle Sponseller says it has been owned by two Central Michigan University Presidents – Dr. Eugene Warriner and Charles Grawn.
Quinn Kirby – The details within and surrounding the windows of 301 East High Street vary in both design and materials.
Quinn Kirby – 701 South University, or “Camelot,” was originally built by Cole Construction’s Lewis Cole as a family home, Sponseller says.
Quinn Kirby – The turret on 701 South University is the building’s most prominent feature.
Quinn Kirby – 503 East Broadway has been owned for both private and commercial uses. In the past it housed the Lux Funeral Home and currently is home to Herbs, Etc., says Michelle Sponseller.
Quinn Kirby – Columns and decorative molding line the back porch of 503 East Broadway.
Quinn Kirby – An overview of roofing at 503 East Broadway boasts blue and gold details.
Quinn Kirby – Michelle Sponseller says 412 East Broadway is built in the Queen Anne style with Richardsonian Romanesque influence.
Quinn Kirby – The purple color of 412 East Broadway lends to the house’s unique appearance.
Quinn Kirby – Brick and wood make up 412 East Broadway’s façade.
Quinn Kirby – 711 South Fancher stands behind a sprawling landscape and horseshoe driveway. Michelle Sponseller says the home was originally owned by William Harris of the Harris Milling Company and featured a mill run by energy from the Chippewa River dam.
Quinn Kirby – The entranceway of 711 South Fancher is sheltered by green roofing and is made of both concrete and brick.
Quinn Kirby – 711 South Fancher is constructed in the French Chateau style.
Quinn Kirby – The Doughty House, located at 301 Chippewa St., is the oldest remaining home in Mt. Pleasant.
Quinn Kirby – Stained glass can be found in the windows of the Doughty House.
Quinn Kirby – The brackets on the porch of the Doughty house have stayed intact since the home’s construction in the 1860’s.
Quinn Kirby – 1001 Watson is one of multiple mid-century modern homes on “Pill Hill.” So-called due to the number of doctors who lived in the area, it is rumored members of the Dow family lived on or around Watson, but the rumors have never been confirmed, Sponsel
Quinn Kirby – Michelle Sponseller says mid-century modern architecture features clean lines and organic curves, both which are present at 1001 Watson.
Quinn Kirby – 117 Fancher was built in the Queen Anne’s style and features a front gabled roof, according to Michelle Sponseller.
Quinn Kirby – Triangles are a recurring shape at 117 Fancher, created by the roof and continued as tessellations on the front of the home.
Quinn Kirby – Green trim is found surrounding 117 Fancher.

Mt. Pleasant officially became a city in 1889 and some homes within its borders are just as established; if not more. Architectural styles in the city vary heavily from Colonial Revival, French Chateau and Mid-century modern, among others.

One building that has experienced its fair share of the past couple centuries is 503 East Broadway. Built in the mid-to-late 1800’s, Downtown Development Director Michelle Sponseller said the building has been used for both residential and commercial purposes.

The Doughty House, located at 301 Chippewa St., is a Michigan State Historic Site and is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The home is older than Mount Pleasant itself, built sometime during the 1860s.

Another building, the Shurtliff House at 301 East High St., reflects the most popular architectural style in the United States, said Sponseller. A Colonial revival building, Sponseller said its style is “uniquely American,” and often includes an eye-catching entryway.

Sponseller’s insight provided descriptions of multiple architectural styles and historical information regarding the significance of buildings in the city. More historical buildings in Mount Pleasant can be found on her Instagram page highlighting interesting architecture in the area at @Historicmp.

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Quinn Kirby
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