214 North Ann Arbor Street

1994 Survey Photo by Kosky & Glynn Associates
Copyright held by the City of Saline

Photo by Lori Swick
February 2013

Photo by Lori Swick
February 2013

Architectural Description: This is a two-story, gable-front Folk Victorian house, clad in asbestos siding, with a wide cornice band under the eaves. There is a hipped-roof formal entry porch on the north end of the west-facing façade and two side-entry porches on the north elevation. The porch on the northeast corner of the house leads to a one-story kitchen ell, located in the in the rear of the house. There is a bay window on the south elevation, suggesting that the house may have originally been decorated with Italianate trim. Alterations since the 1994 survey include exterior paint color changes, porch post, railing and balustrade replacement, a small square window addition in the front gable peak, and recent window replacement on the second story.

History: This house was built sometime prior to 1880. The lot on which this house is situated was purchased by Nathan Isbell in 1869 (Study Committee Report). N. Isbell is listed on the 1874 Combination Atlas Map of Washtenaw County on a large lot on Ann Arbor Street, one lot north of the graded school, across from Russell Street. On the 1870 U.S. Census, Mr. Isbell's occupation is listed as "plasterer." The Study Committee Report states that Isbell worked as the village's only master plasterer and his craftsmanship is still evident in many of the city's historic houses. The report also indicates that Mr. Isbell probably built this house around 1870, although the house does not seem to be present on the 1874 Bird's Eye View of Saline. The exact construction date and original owner are unclear at this time. Local historian Robert Lane believes that this house could have been built before 1840; further deed research and field study will be necessary to add to the history of this home. What is known is that William and Sabina Heller were listed in the 1878-1879 Saline Village General Directory (in Pray's Washtenaw County Directory) as living at the sw corner of Ann Arbor and Russell Streets (research data Kosky & Glynn). The 1895 Standard Atlas of Washtenaw County, Michigan, shows S. Heller as owning the property on which this house is situated. William Kinsley and his wife Lydia lived in the house from 1916-1947. In the 1922 Saline City Directory, Mr. Kinsley is listed as working at the Saline Creamery Company.

Sources: Everts and Stewart. Combination Atlas Map of Washtenaw County, Michigan. Chicago: Dural and Hunter, 1874.

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

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

Ogle, George A. Standard Atlas of Washtenaw County, Michigan. Chicago: George A. Ogle and Co., 1895. http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/.

"U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989." ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com/.

United States Federal Census. Year: 1870; Census Place: Saline, Washtenaw, Michigan; Roll: M593_708; Page: 331B; Image: 117; Family History Library Film: 552207. 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