832 Court Street

Architecture:

Style: Folk House

Description: This is a two-story wood frame structure with cement shingle siding and a contoured concrete block foundation. The steep roofline suggests a possible Gothic Revival origin. A two-story wing on the back is rear gabled. Narrow one-story additions with shed roofs lie on both sides of the house. A wraparound porch was enclosed many years ago, but part of it was recently opened.

Significant Period:

Construction Date: circa 1860’s

Architect/Builder: Unknown

Context: This house is one of the oldest structures on the south side of the 800 Block. Property taxes were paid by ? Partridge in 1859 on a value of $200 for lots 6 and 7, suggesting empty lots. It was likely built in the 1860’s. Thomas A. Ellery was born May 20, 1837 in Vermont and moved to Port Huron November 1851. He was known to have lived at this address from about 1871 to 1878, and to have paid the property taxes. Thomas sailed on the schooners Eugene, Lady Jane, Trader, Star, Emma, S. L. Noble, and R.J. Gibbs; the scows Baltic and Hannah; and was master of the brig Preble. He was mate of the steam barge Mary Mills and captain of the Nelson Mills. He was a practical ship carpenter and vessel owner. In 1857 he married Amelia Hallinan of Port Huron. Their surviving children were Amelia, Estella, Herbert, Arthur, and Grace. M. N. Petit briefly paid the property taxes in 1878. Dennison Smith, a farmer, and his wife and son Edward lived there from about 1883 to 1885. Christopher and Susan Sharp lived there from about 1888 to 1912. He was employed as an express messenger and retired by 1899. Frank E. Sharp, a dentist and secretary of the Seventh District Dental Society, lived with them in 1910. By 1912 Susan was a widow. Susan L. Plunkett, a clerk at Sperry’s, lived there from 1918 to the mid 1920s. Peter Burns, branch manager of the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, lived there in with his wife Mary in 1930. Edward Distelrath, a commercial traveler, and his wife Verna lived there in 1931. Sperry Card, employed by the Wallace and Card Company, lived there with his wife Ida until about 1940.