1229 7th Street

 

Architecture:

    Style:                        Queen Anne

   Description:               A two-story wood frame structure with wood clapboard siding on the first story, wood shingle on the second, and a cut stone foundation.  The complex roofline is cross-gabled.  A large wraparound porch on the front has turned wood posts and railing, dentil in the eaves, and a starburst decorated gable over a double door entry.  Above the main porch on the right is a small second story porch with turned wood posts and a starburst decorated gable.  Facing front on the left is a hipped gable with a gable dormer, the latter exhibiting a starburst and small pilasters flanking the windows.  Below the eaves of this gable is a decorative floral pattern panel.  An eyebrow dormer also faces front.  On the south is a side gable under which are brackets and a first story cutaway bay.  On the north is a side gable cantilevered over a two story curved bay.  Leaded glass transoms are located on all sides of the house.

 

 

Significant Period:

    Construction Date:     1896

    Architect/Builder:       I. Erb

    Context:                    The original blueprints of the house are dated 1896.  A history of this house is a history of the Davidson family who resided here from at least 1871to 1940.  James A. Davidson was born September 29, 1837 in Scotland.  His parents emigrated to Michigan and settled in St. Clair County.  As a young man he came to Port Huron in 1856 to clerk for Meisel & Farrand.  In 1864 he began to trade in dry goods.  He married Helen M. Loomis of Albion, Michigan on September 29, 1864; their daughter was Eusibia N.  By 1872 he established his business in carpets, oil cloth, wall paper, and upholstery goods.  In 1896, the first house was razed and the current home built.  James Davidson’s success continued to climb, and by 1910 he was vice-president of The Commercial Bank and vice-president of Port Huron Hospital and Home.  Eusibia did not marry, and was head of the household from 1912 until at least 1940.  In 1984, Lewis and Lynne Secory with Edward and Vicki Peterson founded the Victorian Inn, a bed and breakfast with fine dining and the Pierpont Pub.  They listed the house with the State Register of Historic Sites.  Marvin and Susan Burke bought the Victorian Inn in the late 1990’s.  They hosted a cancer fundraiser which featured the gowns of Princess Dianna.  This bed and breakfast was featured on Bob Villa’s “Restore America” television program in Spring 2000.