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Form 10-300 (Rev. 6-72)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY- NOMINATION FORM

(Type all entries - complete applicable sections)

4607 W. Caro Road

Watrousville

(Check One) QWNERSHIP

0 District ~ Building Public Acquisition:

0 In Process 0 Site

STATE:

STATUS

0 Occupied

0 Unoccupied 0 Structure

0 Object 0 Being Considered ~ Preservation work

0 Agricultural

0 .Commercial

0 Educational

0 Entertainment

BER:

0 Government

0 Industrial

0 Military

Township Hall

Watrousville

Tuscola Coun

County Courthouse

Caro

N. C itol Avenue . CITY OR TOWN:

Lansing

Park

Private Residence

Religious

in progress

of Deeds

STATE

Michigan

STATE:

Michigan

TO THE PUBLIC

Yes:

IX! Restricted

0 Unrestricted

0 No

n 0 c z -1 -<

"1 N

0 Excellent Good CONDITION

(Ch eck One)

0 Fair

(Che ck One)

0 Deter iorated

XJ Altered 0 Una ltered

DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND O RIG INAL (if PH Y SICAL APP EA RA N CE

0 Ruins 0 Unexposed

(Check One)

0 Moved gg Original Site

The Watrous General Store :ls a two ... story rectangular structure w:lth a gable roo~ and ·a one story wing on the west side. The overall measurements, including the wing, are about forty feet long by thirty feet wide. The build:lng sits on a low cut stone foundat:lon fac:lng north. Tt is balloon frame construction.

The entire buildi ng is very pla:ln, w:lth the only decoratio be:lng a heavy wood moulding under the eaves of the roof. Th:ls is repeated, in conjunct:lon with eight brackets, above the front door. The windows i n the west wing are two over two double hung sash, those in the ground floor of the main struc~ ture are two over four double hung sash, while those upstairs are s:lx over six double hung sash. The door, which is unusuall tall, is flanked on either side by simple black metal light fixtures.

The build:lng shows s i gns of major modification which, it may be suggested, took place at a very early date. There are two indications that the or:lgi nal structure, known to have been before 1864, was a one story rectangular room, and now form::; the ground floor of the present bui ld:lng. The first is that blocks were inserted in the uprights of the door frame to increase its height to accomodate the present door. The second indicat:lon is a frame upr:lght, the same he:lght as the orig:lnal door frame, wh:lch :ls v:ls:lble at the junction of the ma:ln building and the west w:lng.

The most likely date for these changes is 1864, the year that the building was purchased by the ~hilbr:lck family. It may be suggested that the new owner added the west wing, the second story of the main structure, and remodelled the front of the building. Such a hypothes:l s receives support from the fact that the Philbrick's name, written in pencil along with correct dates, is still visible in several places in the interior upstairs.

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AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE

Aboriginal

0 Prehistoric

0 Historic

O Agriculture

O Arc hi lecture

O Art

Qg Commerce

0 Communications

O Conservation

STATEMENT OF SiGNIFICANCE

0 Education

0 Engineering

O Industry

0 Invention

0 Landscape

Architecture

0 Literature

O Military

O Music

0 18th Century

[:;t 19th Century

0 Political

0 Religion/ Phi.

losophy

0 Science

0 Sculpture

0 Socia 1/ Human-

itarian

0 Theater

0 Transportation

0 20th Century

0 Urban Planning

5CJ Other (Specify)

Hi~tor;lcal

The ~sto!,'y o~ Tuscola, Count)!" bega,n w--ith 1\llllber;tng. The clearing of the Cass ~ive!? in --1839 opened the W'ay for timber to be taken out o~ the county, and by the decade of the 1850s lumbering was an important industry. There was money to be made in timber, and it was this which first draw Aaron Watrous to the site of what was to become watrousville in October, 1852.

Watrous stayed that ~irst winter with Patrick McGlone, the origi.nal settler in the v;tllage, while his crew~worked cutting trees. Mc~lone suggested that watrous consider-~nuilding a saw--m;tll, something which watrous did the next year. This mill ~s located in the northwest quarter of section fifteen of ~uniata Township, or just to the east of what is now South Ringle Road. Shortly aftei building the mi.ll, Watrous also built a log boarding house and frame lean-to on the same site from which he operated a small store.

;J:'n Ma:r;ch, 1860, Watrous obtained the entire northeast quarte:r; of Section 16 :from the State of Michigan for $160. On this he platted the village of Watrousville on May 7. Some between that date and ~anuary 25, 1864, when he sold Lot 1 of Block 8 of the village to David ~hilbrick for $300, he erected the ·structu:r?e which :forms the g:r:ound floor of what is now the Wa,trous Gerie:r:al Sto:r:e. It is known that the building was stand;i,ng when the fl~gpole in front was erected in 1864.

The rhilb:r:;tck :fam;tly owned the building from 1864 to 1882. ~n the ~;I_r~t re~rs the rhilbricks operated a general store in the ouildin<J, .but by 1875 this had given way to a furniture sto;t.'e operated byi11rs. 1?hilb:rick. In May 1882, the Township o~ ~unia,ta bought the prope:rty for use as a town hall. The township still owns the building, but in September, 1972 ' · gl?anted the Wa,t:rousville~ca:ro Area Historical Society a ninety­n;lne ye~r lease on the structure. The society is engaged in a progl?a'Ill of m;lnor :renovation on both the interior and exterio of the building preparatory to turning it into a local museum. As such, this building with its long history has be~n adapted to a new use in the life of the community.

(.continued)

Caro. Personal interview with Dorr Wiltse Sr., President of the W'a.trousville-Caro . .A,rea H;i,stori.cal Society. Oct. 29, 1973.

Michisran· State' 'Ga<zetteer·. "' '1 '8 '63~4. Detroit: Charles P. Clarke, 1863. p. 13.

1867. Detroit: Chapman Bros. 1867. H~story- Oflfusco1a and Bay Counties. Chicago:

Bro~., l883, pp. 61~62; 95~96 • .

p. 383. Chapman and

Topo;1raphica'i 'Map o'f' Tuscola· County, Michigan. F. w. Beers and Co., 1875.

Washington:

trousville Personal f the

27 . 06"

STATE :

STATE:

STATE :

As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na­

tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law

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

in the National Register and certify that it has been

P.valuated according to the c·iteria and procedures set

fo;th by the National Park SerVlce. The recommended

level of significance of this nomination is:

I hereby certify that this property is included in the

National Register.

Director, Office of Archeolo~y and Historic Preservation

National O State 0 Local OCJ

ATTEST:

State H;storic Preservation T ' I .... rte Officer

Date Date

GPO 931·89

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Form 10-300o (July 1969)

(Number all entries)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

HATIOHAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

(Continuation Sheet)

8. Significance (continued)

STATE

Michigan COUNTY

Tuscola

The significance of the Watrous General Store grows out of its role in the pioneer community of Watrousville. It is an excellent example of vernacular architecture, the oldest building still standing in town, and has played an important role in the history of the town and township for over one hundred years. The condition of the building is good, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Watrousville-Caro Area Historical Society, which has undertaken minor restoration work.

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GPO 921-724

PROPERTY

WORKING NUMBER \ .

TECH REVIEW PHOTOS--''-------

MAPS I CONTROL REVIEW

HISTORIAN

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN 5/tt;nl 1 ~

ARCHEOLOGIST

REVIEW UNIT CHIEF

BRANCH CHIEF

KEEPER

National Register Write-up 1/ /z </

Federal Register entry II I slfJ i: r 1

STATE ·ci--

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1. 1ti 1r

Send-back------------:

Re-submit ___________ _

Entered 9CT1 1974 INT : 1538-73

Form No. 10-301 a (7/72)

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVI CE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

P ROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

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

S T ATE

Michigan COUNTY

Photograph shows the Northeast corner of the building.

INT: 1~4-72

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Form No. 10-301 Rev. 7-72

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY MAP FORM

CITY OR TOWN:

STATE:

Michigan ""l?=~.·i·•+•~=A=e=R=ftp=)tt=f

TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broundories where required.

2. North arrow.

3. Latitude and longitude reference.

STATE

Michi COUNTY

Tuscola

-tf U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1973-729-148/1441 3·1

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Mapped, edited, and published by the Geological Survey Control by USGS and USC&GS

Topography by photogrammetric methods from aerial photographs taken 1959 and planetable surveys 1963

Polyconic projection. 1927 North American datum 10,000-foot grid based on Michigan coordinate system, east zone 1000-meter Universal Tra nsverse Mercator grid ticks, zone 17, shown in blue

Fine red dashed lines indicate selected fence and field lines where generally visible on aerial photographs. Th is information is unchecked

* MN

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UTM GRID AND 1963 MAG NETIC NORTH DECLI NATION AT CE NTER OF SHEET

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CONTOUR INTERVAL 10 FEET DOTTED LIN ES REPRESE NT 5· FDOT CO NTOURS

DATU~1 IS MEAN SEA LE VEL

THIS MAF COMPLIES WITH NATIONAL iv1A P ACCURACY STANDARDS

FOR SALE BY U. S. GEOLOGICA L SURVEY, WASHINGTON 25, D. C. A FOL DER DESCRIBING TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS AND SYMBOLS IS AVAILABLE ON REQ U EST

32'3011

" ~-

I~ICHIGAG

QU ADRANG LE LOCATION

Heavy·duty

Medium-duly

GILFORD QUADRANGLE

ROAD CLASSIFICATION

Light-duty

Un improved dirt

Q State Route

GILFORD, MICH. N4322 5-W8330/7 .5

1963

AMS 4270 I NE-SERIES V862

"15

JUL 9 1914

NATIONAL REGISTER

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ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER

STATE MICHl

Date Entered

Name

Watroua General tcn'e

Also Notified

Hon . Philip A. Hart Bon. Robert P. Cl'iffb

• J-...llaney Regional Direct or, Midweat Region

~ MMott/r ow 10/ 4/74

Location

llatrouaville Twtcola County

State Uiatortc Pr .. erYatioa Office~ el -Milatah

n. ty Dine tor • llecr•tion D t. of Natural Jt .. otll'c"

lds. t.aa. .. 48t26