201 North Ann Arbor Street

Undated Photo, Courtesy of Saline Area Historical Society

1994 Survey Photo of 100 West McKay Street by Kosky & Glynn Associates
Copyright held by the City of Saline

Photo by Lori Swick
February 2013

 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Images: 1893 (L) and 1912 (R)

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Images: 1921 (L) and 1929 (R)

Architectural Description: This is a two-story gable front house with a two-story wing attached on the south east side. The house is situated on the northwest corner of West McKay and North Ann Arbor Streets. Although this is one structure, there are two addresses attached: the address for North Ann Arbor Street is 201 and the address for West McKay Street is 100. The smaller entrance is on the North Ann Arbor Street side. The larger porch on the south elevation is at the intersection of the two wings and contains two separate entrances (one facing east and one facing north). Each wing has a gable facing the street. The second story of the rear wing is cantilevered over the first story on the north and south ends. An exterior staircase and a carport have been added behind the rear wing. The undated historic photo reveals a full-width front porch (facing North Ann Arbor St.) with slender, Ionic columns and shutters on the windows, indicative of the Greek Revival style. The historic photo south shows the porch extending to the bay window.

History: Joseph Bickford, a clerk of Saline Township, built this house in ca. 1850. Bickford's brother-in-law, Dr. Erasmus Post, was the first resident of the house (Kosky & Glynn). The Sanborn Map images indicate how this house evolved between the years 1893 and 1929. The maps indicate that the house had entrances from McKay and North ann Arbor Streets, as it does today. The address of this house on the Ann Arbor streetside changed between the years 1912 and 1921. Originally, the address was 227. The map from 1921 displays both the old and new addresses: 227 became 201. The porch facing North Ann Arbor Street is shown as full width on all four Sanborn Maps: 1893, 1912, 1921 and 1929. The south elevation of the house (McKay side) changed significantly between the years 1893 and 1929. On the 1893 map, the porch is drawn as being flanked by two bays and there is a one story wing leading to the street. By 1912, this wing grew to two stories and the porch took the L- shape that is seen even today. By 1929, the two-story wing was gone, there was a one-story addition on the south east corner and the south porch was altered to a simpler shape. The historical photo may have been taken at some point after 1929, when the porch was again modified, to the L-shape.

This house served as the residence for four Saline mayors and is locally renowned as "The House of Mayors." The first mayor to live in the house was Harvey Bennett, in 1869. Gilmer C. Townsend followed. According to the 1920 U.S. Census, Mr. Townsend lived at 201 North Ann Arbor Street with his wife, Lillian. His occupation on the census is listed as vice-president of Citizen's Bank. In 1935, Hugh Keveling (mayor of Saline from 1969-1970) resided at this house. Hubert Beach (Saline mayor from 1972-1974) and his wife Catherine purchased the house in 1950 and were still the owners at the time of the 1994 survey.

Sources:
"Historic District Study Committee Report of North Ann Arbor Street Local Historic District." 2004.

Kosky & Glynn Associates. "Historical and Architectural Survey." Saline, Michigan. 1994.

Saline Area Historical Society photo available through the Saline District Library  http://saline.lib.mi.us/

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Saline, Michigan. New York: Sanborn Map & Publishing Co., Limited, 1893. Sheet #2.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Saline, Washtenaw County, Michigan. New York: Sanborn Map Company, 1912. Sheet #2.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Saline, Washtenaw County, Michigan. New York: Sanborn Map Company, 1921. Sheet #2.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Saline, Washtenaw County, Michigan. New York: Sanborn Map Company, 1929. Sheet #6.

* Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Saline, Michigan, Washtenaw County (1888,1893, 1899, 1912, 1921 and 1929) are owned by the City of Saline and located at the Saline City Hall.

United States Federal Census. Year: 1920: Census Place: Saline, Washtenaw, Michigan; Roll: T625_800; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 157. http://www.ancestry.com

Suggested Reading: McAlester, Virginia, and Lee McAlester. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.

Prepared by Lori Swick
April 17, 2013