George P. MacNichol House
Encyclopedia
The George P. MacNichol House, also known as the Ford-MacNichol House, is a house located at 2610 Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte, Michigan
. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1973 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984.
The house is currently used as the main historic house museum of Wyandotte Museums. The Marx House
is also owned by the Museums and used for art exhibits and community meeting space.
across the street) was the son of glass pioneer John Baptiste Ford
and the founder of the Michigan Alkali Company in Wyandotte and the Ford Plate Glass Company in Toledo, Ohio
, (later the Libbey–Owens–Ford Company). In 1896, Ford hired Malcomson & Higginbotham to design this home as wedding gift for his daughter Laura on her marriage to George P. MacNichol. MacNichol was a medical doctor, but was active in research and development work for both the Ford Plate Glass Company and the Michigan Alkali Company. The couple lived in the house for seven years before moving to Toledo to be closer to family.
After the MacNichols moved, the house was purchased by Jeremiah Drennen, a local lawyer. The Drennen family owned the house until the 1970s, when it was purchased by Yvonne Latta. Latta restored the house, and in 1977, it was purchased by the city of Wyandotte.
, with the gable ends and upper portion of the tower covered in shingles.
The house is significant as an example of the residential architecture of the firm of Malcomson & Higginbotham, and for the house's association with some of the community's most prominent people.
Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 25,883 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 7.6% from 2000. Wyandotte is located in southeastern Michigan, approximately south of Detroit on the Detroit River, and is part of the collection of communities known as...
. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1973 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984.
The house is currently used as the main historic house museum of Wyandotte Museums. The Marx House
Marx House
The Marx House is a private house located at in 2630 Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976. It is now used by the Wyandotte Historical Museum....
is also owned by the Museums and used for art exhibits and community meeting space.
History
Edward Ford (also the builder of the Ford-Bacon HouseFord-Bacon House
The Ford-Bacon House is located at 45 Vinewood in Wyandotte, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1987 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. It is now used as the Bacon Memorial District Library....
across the street) was the son of glass pioneer John Baptiste Ford
John Baptiste Ford
Captain John Baptiste Ford was an American industrialist and founder of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, now known as PPG Industries, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
and the founder of the Michigan Alkali Company in Wyandotte and the Ford Plate Glass Company in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, (later the Libbey–Owens–Ford Company). In 1896, Ford hired Malcomson & Higginbotham to design this home as wedding gift for his daughter Laura on her marriage to George P. MacNichol. MacNichol was a medical doctor, but was active in research and development work for both the Ford Plate Glass Company and the Michigan Alkali Company. The couple lived in the house for seven years before moving to Toledo to be closer to family.
After the MacNichols moved, the house was purchased by Jeremiah Drennen, a local lawyer. The Drennen family owned the house until the 1970s, when it was purchased by Yvonne Latta. Latta restored the house, and in 1977, it was purchased by the city of Wyandotte.
Description
The George P. MacNichol House is a two-and-one-half-story wood-framed rectangular-plan gabled Queen Anne house. It has 32 rooms and 6600 feet of interior space, with 6 fireplaces, 65 windows, and 53 doors. The roof and gables are steeply pitched. The front facade features a one-story wraparound porch with Tuscan columns and under-eave latticework, and a corner turret with conical roof. Most of the house is sheathed in clapboardsClapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
, with the gable ends and upper portion of the tower covered in shingles.
The house is significant as an example of the residential architecture of the firm of Malcomson & Higginbotham, and for the house's association with some of the community's most prominent people.