Judge Robert S. Wilson House | |
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Interactive map showing Judge Robert S. Wilson House | |
Location | 126 N. Division St., Ann Arbor, Michigan |
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Coordinates | 42°16′55″N 83°44′37″W / 42.28194°N 83.74361°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1839 |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 72000663 [1] |
Added to NRHP | March 16, 1972 |
The Judge Robert S. Wilson House, also known as the Wilson-Wahr House, [2] is a private house located at 126 North Division Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. [1]
Robert S. Wilson was an attorney who moved from Allegheny County, New York, to Ann Arbor in 1835. [3] He was Judge of the Washtenaw County Probate court for a year, and served in the Michigan House of Representatives. In approximately 1839, Wilson had this house built on a lot in Ann Arbor. He lived there until 1850, when he moved to Chicago [3] and sold the house to John H. Welles. [4]
Welles is thought to have constructed the rear addition to the house, and made other extensive alterations. [4] It is likely that the middle section was built in 1835, the temple portion was added in 1843, and the kitchen and servants quarters were added in 1850. [5] In 1855, Welles' son Henry moved into the house with his four daughters (Clarissa, Sarah, Mary Fiske, and Susan Holly), [5] after the death of his wife. [2] [5] Henry Welles died in 1860, and the house passed to successive owners. [2] In 1893, the house was sold in a tax sale to George Wahr, and his wife, Emma (Staebler) Wahr. [5] The Wahr family constructed another house next door as their residence, and rented the house to sororities and fraternities. [6] After 20 years, they moved back into the main Wilson-Wahr House. [7] The house passed on to the Wahr's daughter, Natalie Wahr Sallade (who died in 1974), [5] and the Sallades occupied the house until 2002 when it was purchased by Norman and Ilene Tyler. [5]
The Robert S. Wilson House is a two-story Greek Revival structure constructed of brick with a stucco finish on a stone foundation. [3] Nearly every survey of Michigan architecture has singled out the Wilson House as an outstanding specimen of Neoclassical architecture design. [3] Architect Fiske Kimball attributed its "four study Ionic columns, rising through two stories, with graceful flutes and capitals" to the original Temple of the Wingless Victory at Athens. [5]
The front facade boasts a full-width portico with Ionic fluted shaft columns, and an entryway framed by matching pilasters. Windows have external shutters. A two-story addition on the rear was likely constructed more recently than the main portion of the house. [3]
Inside, the main section of the house is two parlors deep with a hall containing a stairwell to the side. The rear addition has a side entrance into another stair hall. All the major rooms in the house have fireplaces. [3]
Judge Robert S. Wilson House | |
| |
Interactive map showing Judge Robert S. Wilson House | |
Location | 126 N. Division St., Ann Arbor, Michigan |
---|---|
Coordinates | 42°16′55″N 83°44′37″W / 42.28194°N 83.74361°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1839 |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 72000663 [1] |
Added to NRHP | March 16, 1972 |
The Judge Robert S. Wilson House, also known as the Wilson-Wahr House, [2] is a private house located at 126 North Division Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. [1]
Robert S. Wilson was an attorney who moved from Allegheny County, New York, to Ann Arbor in 1835. [3] He was Judge of the Washtenaw County Probate court for a year, and served in the Michigan House of Representatives. In approximately 1839, Wilson had this house built on a lot in Ann Arbor. He lived there until 1850, when he moved to Chicago [3] and sold the house to John H. Welles. [4]
Welles is thought to have constructed the rear addition to the house, and made other extensive alterations. [4] It is likely that the middle section was built in 1835, the temple portion was added in 1843, and the kitchen and servants quarters were added in 1850. [5] In 1855, Welles' son Henry moved into the house with his four daughters (Clarissa, Sarah, Mary Fiske, and Susan Holly), [5] after the death of his wife. [2] [5] Henry Welles died in 1860, and the house passed to successive owners. [2] In 1893, the house was sold in a tax sale to George Wahr, and his wife, Emma (Staebler) Wahr. [5] The Wahr family constructed another house next door as their residence, and rented the house to sororities and fraternities. [6] After 20 years, they moved back into the main Wilson-Wahr House. [7] The house passed on to the Wahr's daughter, Natalie Wahr Sallade (who died in 1974), [5] and the Sallades occupied the house until 2002 when it was purchased by Norman and Ilene Tyler. [5]
The Robert S. Wilson House is a two-story Greek Revival structure constructed of brick with a stucco finish on a stone foundation. [3] Nearly every survey of Michigan architecture has singled out the Wilson House as an outstanding specimen of Neoclassical architecture design. [3] Architect Fiske Kimball attributed its "four study Ionic columns, rising through two stories, with graceful flutes and capitals" to the original Temple of the Wingless Victory at Athens. [5]
The front facade boasts a full-width portico with Ionic fluted shaft columns, and an entryway framed by matching pilasters. Windows have external shutters. A two-story addition on the rear was likely constructed more recently than the main portion of the house. [3]
Inside, the main section of the house is two parlors deep with a hall containing a stairwell to the side. The rear addition has a side entrance into another stair hall. All the major rooms in the house have fireplaces. [3]