1205 7th
Street
Architecture:
Style: Gothic
Revival
Description: This is a two-story wood frame house with wood
clapboard siding and a cut stone foundation.
The steep pyramidal roof has lower cross gables in three directions, and
a rear gabled rear addition. On the
north side is a two-story semi-hexagonal bay.
On the east is a one story semi-hexagonal bay. Decorative elements include vergeboard in the gables, a two-story cutaway bay on the
northeast corner with a turned post on the second story, and ornamental
woodwork on the southeast corner and over the main entryway. A large wraparound porch no longer exists. This house sits on a prominent corner lot
with original iron fencing and a mature Ginko
tree. New owners have begun to restore
this once elegant home.
Significant
Period:
Construction Date: 1850’s ?
Architect/Builder: Unknown
Context: In
1859, R. Mapstone paid taxes on property valued at
$500. By 1873, S. L. Balentine
paid taxes on the value of $800.
Residents from at least 1871 to 1880 were Silas L. Balentine
and wife Caroline Laura Farrand, daughter of lawyer Bethuel Clinton Farrand. Their children were Emma McAllen, Caroline
Whitman, Katharine Forrest, and Edward Farrand. Silas was born November
3, 1845
in St.
Andrews,
New
Brunswick. His family
left Calais, Maine for Old Brockway, Michigan when he was twelve; he
attended high school in Almont. In 1860
he clerked for Wallace & Gibson which later became Charles P. Noyes &
Co. In 1867, Silas and brother David bought and renamed it, S. L. & D. Balentine, a Dry Goods business. He married Caroline on November
7, 1868.
In 1870 Silas’ personal estate value was $3000.
David died in 1874. Silas brought
in his nephew, Albert R. Balentine, in 1881. Silas was a stockholder and director in the
Commercial National Bank and an incorporator and one of the directors of the
Narrow Gauge Railroad. In 1901 he served
as State Representative. John C. Johnstone resided by 1883 through 1902. He was a bookkeeper for Carleton, Stewart,
and Company, then secretary treasurer for Grand Trunk Elevator Company, also
secretary treasurer for Johnstone and Menish. Frederick and Charlotte Sherman resided from 1904
to 1909. He was secretary treasurer for
the Port Huron Times and treasurer of Riverside Printing company. Dagny Holth, widow of Christian, lived there with several
children in 1915. William and Rachel Barkell resided in 1918.
He was proprietor of Barkell Auto Company
located at 1121 Military. William Wynne,
retired, lived there in 1920. Dr. Alex MacKenzie and his wife Anna then followed, from 1923 to
1938. He was a physician and surgeon at suite 504 in the Meisel
building, then 504-5-6 US Bank Building. The home was divided into four apartments by
1940.