208 South Ann Arbor Street

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

Photo by Cynthia Christensen
October 2012

Architectural Description: This is a two-and-one-half story, vernacular Queen Anne style house with a hipped roof, set on a stone and concrete foundation.
There are lower cross gables on both the north and south elevations. The house has painted clapboard siding and the gable peaks have fishscale shingles and small square windows. The south elevation has a partial two-story cutaway bay with spindle-work detail. The small, square front entry porch has a hipped roof, spindle-work supports and a modern concrete base. This porch has changed shape since the 1921 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, which showed a wrap-around front porch from the front to the north. Currently, there is an additional small entry porch on the north elevation containing modern iron supports.
Despite some exterior color changes, this house remains similar to the 1994 survey photo.

History: This house was probably built between the years of 1899-1910 by either John Burg or A.M. Hunt. A man named Kneeland Simmons and his wife Alice rented the house from 1910 - 1926. By 1931, Charles Carven owned the house and his daughter Bessie Collins inherited it and was the owner until at least 1947 (Kosky & Glynn).

* Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Image: 1921

Sources: "Historic District Study Committee Report for the South Ann Arbor Street Local Historic District." 2007.

Kosky & Glynn Associates. "Intensive Survey, South Ann Arbor Street, Saline, Michigan." 1994.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Saline, Washtenaw County, Michigan. New York: Sanborn Map Company, 1921. 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.

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