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Form 10-300 (July 1969)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY- NOMINATION FORM

(Type all entries - complete applicable sections)

Library

126 East Main Street at Webster Court

Ionia

CATEGORY OWNERSHIP

(Che ck One)

0 District IXJ E!ui I ding ~ Public Public Acquis i t i on:

0 In Process 0 Si te 0 Structure 0 Private

0 Object 0 Both

City of Ionia

East Main Street

CIT Y OR TOWN :

0 Being Considered

Park

Private Residence

Religious

of Deeds Office

STATE :

STATE:

Mi an COUNTY:

Ionia

STATUS ACCESSIBLE

TO THE PUBLIC

[X) Occupied Yes:

D Unoccupied [] Restricted

0 Preservation w 0 Unrestricted

in progress 0 No

0 Transportation [X) Comments

0 Other (Specity)It is now being used as a public library.

Michigan

Michi

()

0 c z -1 -<

0 Good 0 Ruins 0 Unexposed 0 Deteriorated 0 Fair CONDITION

(Check One) (Check One)

0 Altered iXJ Unaltered 0 Moved IX] Origina I Site

DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (If known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

The Hall-Fowler Memorial Library is one of the most elegant forms og Italianiate architecture adopted in western Michigan. The presence of Italian persuasion is interesting both architecturally and for its long association with ro­mantic informality. It is a large t wo-story build~ng ~lrn~&t square in shape and basically described as the bracketeq tower style. In addition to its immense size, there is also a service wing at the rear of the mansion, and a large closed-in sunroorn on the east side of the house which is surroundedlSy- rounded arched windows. The popularization of this Italian Villa style surrounded the years of the Civil War.

The constructional coloration adds to its striking ap­pearance. --The mansion is built of variegated ashlar sand­stone which deviates in color from a yellow gray to a reddish

rown. The sandstone was excavated from quarries near Ionia. It has' a low hip roof which appears flat with notable ex­tended ro~eaves. Also present is a single brick chimney on either side of the house. A characteristic feature of this style is the presence of an oct~gonal central cupola or tower which was actually first used in England during the eighteenth century. The tower was associated with the widows walk or area on the top of seaport homes where women would look out to the sea for their husbands returning horne in ships. Perhaps the most striking novelty is the presence of the bighly ornate bracketed cornices. extending from the overhanging roof. The wide overhang of each cornice is ornamented with pairs of elaborate brackets and smaller brackets between them.

One of the characteristic features of the elongated win­dows is the stilted segmental window arch, more commonly re­ferred to as the straight sided arch. The decorative ex­tended wood porches which grace the entrance ways make for notable doors and emphasize especially the double doors of intricate paneled oak.

The interior is finely finished in an impressive manner. The second floor is reached by a delicately winding walnut stairway and decorative plaster cornices again appear in several of the rooms. Various friezes appear on the ceiling, but some of these were probably done later, perhaps around 1900. One room contains wallpaper covered by various frieze patterns and designs. A second story room over the vestibule has a painted ceiling composed of a border, and a blue panel with spider-web motifs in gold.

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Form 10-JOOa (July 1969)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY

(Continuation Sheet)

Hichigan

(Number all entrlee)

6. Representation in Existing Surveys continued

Historic American Building Survey 196.5 Library of Congress Washington D· c.

7• Physical Description continued

Since 1903, the mansion has housed the F~ll-Fowler Memorial Library. On October 9, 1903 it was opened to the public as a gift to the city from }!rs. Marion F..all-Fowler. The front room on the east side is now used as the Historical room. The house as a whole retains most of its original architectural features, despite i s use as a library, for most of the bookshelves and tables havebeen installed with discretion.

9· }~jor Biographical References continued

McKee, Harley J., "Glimpses of Architecture in l'..ichie;an," Hichigan History Vol. f• 1966.

Schenck, John s. , History of Ionia ~ l·!ontcalm ~' 1-tl.chigan, Philadelphia: D. 1-1. Ensign and Co. , 1881.

Wt'ight, Edward J., Ionia in 1891, Gazetteer, Ionia: Sentinel Printing co.' 1891· - -

·------ -· ·--·-·-·--- -·-·· -· - ·--

NATIONAL REGISTER

'~

·----·--·--·-·-----· ·- --- - -----

z 0

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0 18th Century

~ 19th Century

0 20th Century

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate)

Aboriginal 0 Education 0 Political 0 Urban Planning

0 Prehistoric 0 Engineering 0 Religion/ Phi. 0 Other (Specify)

0 Historic 0 Industry losophy

0 Agriculture 0 lnventi on 0 Science (11: Architecture 0 Landscape 0 Sculpture

0 Art Architecture 0 Socia 1/Human-

0 Commerce 0 Literature itarian

0 Communications 0 Military 0 Theater

0 Conservation 0 Music 0 Transportation

TATEMENT OF siGNIFICANCE

The Frederick Hall house was erected in 1869-1870. According to Wayne Andrews, archite.ctural historian, it was built for 11r· Hall by a Captain lucius Hills,. Ionia is known for her style of private residences and probably ranks as one of the most beautiful villages in ~~chigan. The mansion once stood on beautifully decorated grounds on the main street in town across from the Courthouse. This palatial residence is said to be one of the best examples of the "Italian Villa" type of architecture to be found in the state.

Frederick Hall was a local banker and important public official. For more than forty years he was a leading figure in Ionia. He was born in Vermont in 1816 and first came to l1ichigan in 1836, then settled in Ionia in 1841. The buying and selling of pine lands was his main business, but the public positions he held throughout his life were many. He was elected to the State legislature in 1849 and became the first mayor of Ionia in 1873· At one time he was con­sidered the wealthiest man in the county. He had earlier served as receiver of public money for the land office at Ionia in 1845, having been appointed by President Polk.

l'.li'· Hall had the mansion at 126 E. Main Street built for his family. Hr. Frederick Hall died in 1883. The house l'Tas donated to the city of Ionia on October 9, 1903, by Mr. Hall's daughter, l1rs. Marion Hall-Fowler as a memorial to her parents and husband. It is now being used as Ionia ' s public library.

American Biographical History, ¥ichigan Vol., Cincinnati: vestern Biographical Publishing Co., 1878.

Andrews, v~yne, Architecture in ¥d.chigan, Detroit: ·~layne State University Press, 1967.

"The City of Ionia", Nichigan Pioneer Collections , Vol. III, 1881. Deed from Marion Hall-Fowler to the City of Ionia, dated July 8, 1903. Dillenback, J. D., F.istory ~Directory of Ionia Co., H:ichigan, Grand

Rapids: J. D. Dillenback, 1872· Ionia Dailey Sentinel , April 26, 1883; April 27, 1883; Aug. 14, 1903;

October 10, 1903.

Degrees Minutes Seconds

85 o 03 . 44 ..

STATE:

STATE:

STATE:

NAME AND TITLE:

}fiss Linda Contreras, assistant historian ORGANIZATION DATE

H:ichigan F.:istorical Commission Feb. 9, 1971 STREET AND NUMBER:

3405 N• Logan st. CITY OR TOWN:

As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na­

tional Historic Preservation Ac t of 1966 (Public Law

89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion

in the National Register and certify that it has been

evaluated a c c ording to the criteria and procedures set

forth by the National Park Service . The recommended

level of significance of this nomination is:

National 0 State 0 Local 0

Direc to r

Title _ D_e_:p:__t _._o_f_ N_a_t_u_r_a_l _ R_e_s_o_u_r_c_e_s __

Date 2/25/71

STATE

I hereby c ertify that this property is included in the

National Register.

1971 Date ------------------

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WASO Form • 177 ("R" June 1984)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET

0 resubmission 0 nomination by person or local government 0 owner objection 0 appeal

Substantive Review: Osample

Reviewer's comments:

0 request

Nomination returned for: __ technical corrections cited below ___ substantive reasons discussed below

1. Name II a II- LoW 1-e-r 2. Location lvn 7~, 3. Classification

Oappeal

Working No.-----------­Fed. Reg. Date: ----------­Date Due:------------­Action: __ ACCEPT--------

_RETURN ______ _ _REJECT _______ _

Federal Agency:-----------

D N R decision

Recom./Criteria __________ _

Reviewer--------------Discipline _____________ _ Date ______________ _

__ see continuation sheet

2/ jhz-d[J 4-n

Category Ownership Public Acquisition

StatUI

Acceaalble Pretent Use

4. Owner of Property

5. Location of Legal Description

6. Representation in Existing Surveys

Has this property been determined eligible?

7. Description

Condition

0 excellent

Ogood 0falr

0 deteriorated

0 ruins 0 unexposed

0 yes Ono

Check one

0 unaltarad

D alterad

Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

0 summary paragraph 0 completeness 0 clarity 0 alterations/integrity 0 dates 0 boundary selection

Check one

0 original alta 0 moved date ______ _

8. Significance

Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below

Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in OM psr.gf'IIPh)

D summary paragraph D completeness D clarity D applicable criteria D justification of areas checked 0 relating significance to the resource D context D relationship of integrity to significance 0 justification of exception D other

9. Major Bibliogr~phicel References

1 0. Geogl'lphicel Data

Acreage of nominated property------Quadrangle name ____ _

UTM References

Verbal boundary description and justification

11. Form Prepared By

12. Sta18 His1Dric Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is:

national state local

State Historic Preservation Officer signature

title

13. Other

DMaps D Photographs D Other

date

Questions concerning this nomination may be directed 1D ---------------------------

Signed----------------- Dete -----------Phone=-----------

ComrMnt:l for any i•m ,.y I» continued on an •ttllehtld lhtltlt

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UNIT ED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PAR K SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

(Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph)

tTY OR TOWN :

The front of the hbuse is facing south.

- --- - - ;·- --- -- - ---TATE

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SOURCE: Mich. Dept. 5-9-68 1"=1000 ft.

of Highways, Ionia.

DATE: SCALE:

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Form 10-301 (Dec. 1968)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY MAP FORM

(Type ali entries - attach to or enclose with map)

CITY OR TOWN:

STATE:

TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broundaries where required .

2. North arrow.

3. Latitude and longitude reference.

STATE

Nichigan COUNTY

Ionia

I

--------------------------------------------------

Missing Core Documentation

Property Name Hall-Fowler Memorial Library

County, State Ionia, Michigan

Reference Number 71000398

The following Core Documentation is missing from this entry:

Nomination Form

_Photographs

_X_ USGS Map

it30-HR

hr. Jcdt)~' ~-~~c;•ull.m ta~~tCl'. v~ 1; urt'1ler:.t

of (;~n~~rv.,tiou St¢V-tJUS T. £.~uon Bui 1'1in~~ Lansini, ;~ictlii.tln 4~J26

~\

June $, 1969

In aecorJsn.t;:e '-fi th the tcl'".;a of t ... ~ f'Grant.J ..:nit!~ ;• t•ht ch ~ovorn• ft;doral-Stata l'~l.:;.tion3hi.?S, tmder 1;boa ~~.Jtional !d3toric i'n>$~-rvatio-n Act_. l-N ll:rt) returning the ~nclost:J r~ot1inntion furJ?-s for 1';;rn::Jr Hm:se , First t:.o!'l ~ re .:: ~H:..io:.,.-::1 C::\3-)el, First Co:t~', r"' ~: atlc:nal Cmrch~ Md ildl-ro\dv:r ;:c-.:1\}ri:q · q:..'-r:1cy. ~.;o:1e of t~<t:S;;! \i~r!3 aceom;o:h·miod hy #

photo~~:ra1pn of tile ~i w r::~quir:}d in th~ "Grt:tnts Guido:• (~axi-:~u~ S :dO, niniSlu~;;. 4 ~-- S) . In ~d.Ji tion. tho J.o!lcri?ti~ns of thQ :'!r>f.-ii.natad 0'1"1'"<'•'· ~-t~ I' 7 "'1"-<1 rl(1<t ;,. ; "\• ' ''"'"' , t"'i ..,1 .... ._. "1 t "<) ,.,,, ~. , ·~ n ·~ '~<)'r'':"l t'ln t j•"lll!rl"',:,."t .;: .... ""J. - .. ...... .... \ ~ ... .... _ ._. ~·- ·; \ "'"" - ·~ · ""'•-~ · 1-- -.;. · • ·'- .... · <. - ..... '\.i ···· ~ " ,... "'~ : ... • .. n•""''" t

ttjjJ. th~ .3t~,tr;;•,t;.ats of :3i }·:dfic.rmco ~r~ not sufficiently a:::ph to re;.n·es~!lt th~ protiel·tics in the :'u t~lLshu:d v~rsi<~a of the National ittt;ist~r . lhi$ is ;mrticularly tru~ of t~!$ fct1 f,n· th~ Tu:rner Hous~ . Al thtHi.{h tlw p~wto!ii'Uph +lec:c;~;>a.<lYL t•: ·t~te for::1 fo-r ttJ.~ Vli-•e~r Cmurty · Courthouse 1$ vr::.ry r:ood, V(l 1n·6 al-so Mturnin~ ttiis fore v.lt.h th" r:3que~t t<&~t y.o-w C~fliii'lj t~ft ~escription ~"ld the st<lt~~<mt of Signiflco:n.c~. As .1» (,:<.ar.rple of a w~ll-~r~~~•lY"~ fvm , W'-' al'e encl Q.i .. ine a t;o:;iinR-tion su~~itt.,;.J by th~ st~t" of }!is:oourl ..

WG ~lso bolit}•;e it \inuld l'fl)t b~ well for us to eontimta to I!CC$pt

!--;ichi?,tul no:'}batJ or.s until th!l St 11t~ a$Se~bles t.b& req·..ttrs.{l :Professional rllViO'.( CO..rdi:i ttOO • >L~ t ~:OU ld tl{I:'O•ll' th:I"!; 2 Vl'ir""f ,!;OOJ CO'J;...':i.tt4!e tW"!lld b.a Ct\i.ipvscl-1 f·xo~SJCvnftd~ntial list of .rcc•x.t~cnJc,\l na~s~ as lo:1~ as all t hreo discinlincs. his terry, arc!'\eolo~y, an.J arcl.ii tactur~ ar~ rt:lpr~st:nterl. ~~~~.m yoar co,~ttcc is ori!lll'lizc-.i, wo ugt;ost t~~at you ~rr!\..~:,:o !n-r 0r . liitt1·y. ir. Cl¢land , 0r sOi!lo other arcln'!olor.ist to sa:rve \litr~ t ;l" ~l:tOl<:. •Hion:ll staff, ;c; uell ~~'l" on t:,e Tt7\fi~\t CO.ti<:<lttee. Thi~ i:; n0ces$a.-y b c;aus::. thcr oe:rode •• tb:h whic.h )'OU sui.J!.i1itteJ for your ZJl"'VC'Y stuff co :v>t itv.Hc~tc th:.tt th~'l \!isci~>liU;} of nrchoolo~:.Y is ad .. qu.,1.te l1 x.·~.Fr~~s¢nteJ . For t:w sn:.-.e 1"ea!J(.In, -.1a s.r~ un3ble to t\_pprov~ your s~!Jztitute· '' iistC~ric Pr.3sr.rvation TAsl;. l~o:rc~ 11 &.:J it 18" now ·

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l~e shall t~ htli)PY to l'&d.e\!1 t1HHie ~on!il'a\tlons "''~ten you havo ~D.de t he reccOfl;r;m<!:h.i cji~i~ .... ~t. and i!dtH.tlonA to th<:: .fnr::Js~ na..l t:~iu~n t!~cy h.av~ t~~a pas~.;;d ty an a: .. ~~rov"J ravic~1 l:oJy ~~•lc~t inclu..! .. ~s .raprest>ntativcs frO$ each uf tfie 5hre~ raqu.i r~~i. i::;¢1;..tlll dhcit-~lin<$s..

cc;

, ·· agh lSgd. ) william J • 1:u.:r \1

\til liM J. ~.:u-rto~h ~ea~r of t!1o :'4ationd

Re!l,i!)to.r

Regi<mal iJirector. No-rtheas t ner.~ion w/e inc.

T, w/c inc. JIR

JLRogers:jah 6/5

STATE OF MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION .

E. M. LAITALA Chairman

CARL T. JOHNSON

ROBERT C. McLAUGHLIN

AUGUST SCHOLLE

HARRY H. WHITELEY

WILLIAM G. MILLIKEN, Governor

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES STEVENS T. MASON BUILDING, LANSING, MICHIGAN 48926

THE I t':AFAT t

RALPH A . MAC MULLAN, Director

March 2, 1971

Dr. William J. Murtagh Keeper of the National Register Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation National Park Service · 801 19th Street, N. W., Room 618 Washington, D. C. 20006

Dear Dr. Murtagh:

Enclosed are sixteen (16} sets of nomination forms for the National Register of Historic Sites, as follows:

1. Fort Wayne, Wayne County.

• ·:t;. · 2. A. P. Gardner Mansion, Calhoun County .

3. Pewabic Pottery, Wayne County.

4. Mathew Geary House, Mackinac County.

5. Grace Church, Hillsdale County.

6. Lasanen Site, Mackinac County.

7. Holtz Site, Antrim County.

8. Eaton County Courthouse, Eaton County.

9. SS. Peter and Paul Church, Wayne County.

10. Chippewa Hill, Gogebic County.

~ Hall-Fowler Memorial Memorial Library, Ionia County

12. Northville Historic District, Wayne County.

13. Summer Island Sife, Delta County.

14. Bay Furnace, Alger County.

..

Dr. W. J. Murtagh - 2 - March 2, 1971

15. Clinton- Kalamazoo Canal, Macomb County.

16. Ann Arbor Railroad Station, Livingston County.

These sites have been approved by the Historic Preservation Advisory Council, and are herewith submitted for nomination to the National Register of Historic Sites by Dr. Ralph MacMullan, the State Liaison Officer.

NFS:JAB:glc En c. cc: D. Chaput

C. Cleland

Sincerely, '

~~?.~ Norman F. Smith, Chief Office of Planning Services

and Chairman, Historic Preservation

Task Force

... .. J\'Y 1 0 1971

I

MAY 6 1971

l~: PDHerrick: sam 5/4/71 BASIC FILE RETAINED IN HR

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Properties added to the National Registe~ of Historic Places

MICHIGAN

Hall-Fowler Memorial Library

Grace Episcopal Church

Ann Arbor Railway Station

Lasenen Site

Gardner House Museum

Geary (Mathew) House

Grand Trunk Railway Station

Fort Hayne

Ionia County Ionia, Michigan

Hillsdale County Jonesville, Michigan

Livingston County Howell, Michigan

l~ackinac County St. Ignace, Nichigan

Calhoun County ­Albion, Michigan

Mackinac County Mackinac Island, ~uchigan

Shiawassee County Durand, Michigan

Wayne County .Detroit, Michigan