1305 7th Street

 

Architecture:

    Style:                        Second Empire

    Description:              The massive, asymmetrical house was built in the Second Empire style.  It is a three-story wood frame structure with vinyl siding and a cut stone foundation.  The Mansard roof is straight with a flare at the bottom.  Dormers with flat roofs are located on all sides of the building.  A tower without the original cupola faces east on 7th Street.  There is a full height semi-hexagonal bay on both north and south sides of the building. Windows through out the house are tall and narrow, though all decorative window hoods were removed when the house was resided.  Some iron cresting remains, as well as the decorative front porch, behind which are paired entry doors.  A patterned brick chimney is located on the north side.  On the west is a shorter two-story wing with a flat roof.

 

Significant Period:

    Construction Date:     1876

    Architect/Builder:       Unknown

    Context:                    Mrs. Mehitable Davis Sanborn, prominent widow of James W. Sanborn, had the home built and lived there with her sons Frederick D. and William H., and stepdaughter Nancy A.  James W. Sanborn came to Port Huron in 1835.  With Joseph Kelsey, Charles Merrill of Detroit, and Abner Colburn (later the governor of Maine), they had large lumber interests throughout the state, including 25,000 acres in St. Clair and Sanilac Counties. In 1847, he began a dry goods and lumber business there.  The Lapeer District elected him State Representative in 1838 and 1846.  In 1853, he was elected to the House of Representatives, 1858 he was the Commissioner of the State Land Office.  James W. Sanborn died April 13, 1870.  Their son William died in 1892 in Barre, Massachusetts.  Mehitable, Frederick, and his wife Jennie Sweetser Sanborn lived in the home until about 1910 when they moved to California.  In 1918, Jay G. Philpott and wife Ernestine lived there.  He was a wholesale liquor dealer with his business at 702-04 Lapeer Avenue.  After he left, the large house was converted into eight apartments, each occupied by people of substance.  The 1920 City Directory listed it as the “Clarendon,” by the 1930’s there were twelve apartments.  In 1939, fire destroyed the central cupola and damaged the third floor.