936 Court Street

Architecture:

Style: Queen Anne Style

Description: This is a richly detailed, two story wood frame with wood clapboard siding and a cut stone foundation. The roofline is hipped with cross gables on all four sides. A polygonal tower rises over a two story porch and main entrance on the right. The front gable has a square window in a round opening, flanked by square cutaway bays on the corners with railing. A one story semi-hexagonal bay is under the west gable, while on the east is a small side porch. A prominent shingle belt encircles the house between the first and second stories. A deck area to the west of the main porch is not historic.

Significant Period:

Construction Date: circa 1893

Architect/Builder: Unknown

Context: This home appeared on the 1903 Sanborn Insurance Map. Frederick and Martha Symons (born in England and Canada) lived there in 1894, according to the Michigan State Census. He was a railroad freight inspector. John Murray lived there 1899 to at least 1904. He was born May 25, 1848 in St. Mary’s, Ontario; taught school at Tilsonburg, then came to Michigan. In 1882 he was an editor of the Sunday Commercial; in 1886, he and J. Bartle Parker began the Sunday Herald, then Parker retired. W.A. Mustard was also a partner for a short time. They sold to Ottaway & Weil in 1900 who then merged it into the Daily Herald. From April 1, 1895 to April 1, 1899 Murray was Postmaster of Port Huron. Mr. Murray bought back Mr. Ottaway’s share of the Daily Herald in July, 1901 and was editor-in-chief until his death on May 23, 1907. Harry R. Warden resided here in 1906. Dr. Mason Vroman and his wife Birdie lived there from 1907 to 1909. He was a physician, surgeon, and eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist at suite 309-10-11 Meisel Block. Bruno and Louise Schuster resided here 1910 to 1912. He was a physician and surgeon, and medical examiner for the Immigrant Department. Martin Eggan lived there from 1913 to 1915.