275 South Ann Arbor Street

Undated Historic Photo of the John Henry Barr House
Courtesy of Saline Area Historical Society

Photo by Cynthia Christensen
October 2012

Architectural Description: This is a two-story Italianate Villa style house. The original house was built in the traditional “L” shape with the tower or “cupola” located where the upright and wing section meet. A two-story addition was added to the rear of the upright section between 1988-1992 (Study Committee Report). The hipped-roof tower extends above the roofline and features paired windows on all four sides. The west-facing façade has a partial width porch and there is an additional large porch on the south side of the rear wing that wraps around to decking on the rear of the house. This side porch was recently remodeled in 2012 to include boxed supports topped with spindlework brackets, matching the details of the front porch.

History: Saline’s founder, Orange Risdon, originally owned the property on which this house sits. In 1855, Risdon’s son, Allen, was deeded the property. John Henry Barr purchased the property from Allen Risdon in 1870 and built this house in 1873. John Henry Barr (originally spelled Baehr) and his wife Catherine had seven children - only three survived infancy: sons William and Henry and daughter Charlotte. John Henry and his sons owned and operated an apple orchard and a successful sorghum and cider mill. Their goods were shipped all over the eastern states. The mill was located just north of the house, where the house at 257 South Ann Arbor now stands (please see the photo for 257 South Ann Arbor Street). After John Barr’s death in 1914, the property was divided between William and Henry. George inherited the house and William inherited the land. The house continued to be in the Barr family for almost 100 years.

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.

Obert, Susan. "A Profile of Saline’s Historic Properties: 275 South Ann Arbor Street." Graduate Student Report, Eastern Michigan University, 2003.

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

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