1304 7th
Street
Architecture:
Style: Second
Empire
Description: This asymmetrical house is a two-story brick structure
with a cut stone foundation. The Mansard
roof line is straight, with dormers located on all sides of the building. A square tower faces west, with paired
brackets in the eaves but without a cupola.
The two door front entry is below.
The windows on the main structure, some single and some paired, are tall and narrow.
Both first and second story windows have elaborate decorative
hoods. There is a large semi-hexagonal
bay on the north side of the building. A
front porch facing west and a side porch on the north no longer exists. This structure contributes to the historic
character of the neighborhood.
Significant
Period:
Construction Date: late 1877-81
Architect/Builder: Unknown
Context: Robert
S. Philbrick lived here throughout the 1880’s into
the early 1890’s. His obituary in the
Port Huron Daily Times, dated Jan. 26, 1895, stated that he built this
house. It is clearly seen in the 1894
Birds Eye View of Port Huron. Robert was
born in Onondaga County, New York and spent his youth
there. In 1849 he took an overland trip
to California, staying a number of
years. He bought a farm in Riley Township in 1863, and until 1874
ran a hotel business at Memphis, Ridgeway, Capac, and
Lapeer. At that time he became the
proprietor of the Thompson House, located on the west side of Military Street near Pine. While the Custom House was constructed, most
of the workmen boarded here. Robert S. Philbrick died January, 1895. The Frank S. Philbrick
family lived there from 1901 to the mid-1920’s. Frank’s wife was Belle F., the widow of F.C.
Parsons. Frank held many jobs throughout
the years including bookkeeper for 1st National Exchange Bank,
secretary for Jenks, Taylor & Co., treasurer of the Ruledge
Playing Card Co., secretary for Michigan Farm Products Co., then employed by
the Foundation Co. The Anson and Lillian
Welch family lived there in the early 1930’s.
He was first a painter, then a photographer. The William and Diantha
Harvey family lived there in the late 1930’s.
He was a music teacher and organist for the First Congregational Church.