Charles T. Mitchell House

Charles T. Mitchell House
Location 118 N. Shelby St., Cadillac, Michigan
Coordinates 44°15′6″N 85°23′53″W / 44.25167°N 85.39806°W / 44.25167; -85.39806Coordinates: 44°15′6″N 85°23′53″W / 44.25167°N 85.39806°W / 44.25167; -85.39806
Area 1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built 1926 (1926)
Architectural style Prairie School, Bungalow/craftsman
NRHP Reference # 86003369[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP December 1, 1986
Designated MSHS July 23, 1987[2]

The Charles T. Mitchell House is a private house located at 118 North Shelby Street in Cadillac, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1987[2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.[1]

History

House as originally built

George Mitchell, the youngest son of Congressman William Mitchell of Indiana, arrived in the Cadillac area in 1869, exploring the proposed route of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad.[3] Mitchell was particularly interested in the area near Clam Lake (now Lake Cadillac). In 1871, Mitchell returned to the area and platted a village on the shore of the lake, and by January 1872 the village already had 300 inhabitants.[3] Mitchell was able to induce many influential businessmen and lumbermen to settle in his new community, including his nephew William W. Mitchell.[4]

In 1874, George Mitchell built this house in the Second Empire style, including ornate caved woodwork inside and a mansard roof outside.[2] Mitchell lived here until 1878, when his business partner, Wellington W. Cummer, purchased it. Cummer lived in the house until 1922.[2]

George Mitchell's nephew William Mitchell went on to form, with partner Jonathan W. Cobbs, the firm of Cobbs & Mitchell, which was among the largest lumbering firms in Michigan; he also formed Mitchell Brothers.[5] In 1876, William Mitchell married Ella Yost; the couple had two children, Charles T. Mitchell and Marie Mitchell. As the 20th century dawned, Charles T. Mitchell began looking after William Mitchell's affairs, and when William died in 1915, Charles was able to step in as president of the companies formerly headed by his father.[5]

In 1922, Charles T. Mitchell purchased the house built by his great-uncle George from Wellington W. Cummer.[2] In 1926, Mitchell completely renovated he house to reflect the then-current Prairie School trend in architecture. The house was clad with red brick, most of the ornamentation was removed, and the mansard roof was replaced with a low hip roof.

Description

The Charles T. Mitchell House is a two-story rectangular house clad in rust-colored brick with a slate hip roof. A single story, L-shaped carriage house is constructed similarly.

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mitchell, Charles T., House". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Cobbs and Mitchell Building Historic District Study Committee (September 15, 2010), Preliminary Report of the Cobbs and Mitchell Building Historic District Study
  4. ↑ "Cobbs and Mitchell Mill No.1". Michigan Historical Marker.
  5. 1 2 "William W. Mitchell", Chicago Lumberman, 29: 95–96, 1916
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