732 Pine Street

Architecture:

Style: Folk Victorian

Description: This is a two-story wood frame structure with brick patterned asphalt sheet siding and a rock face concrete block foundation. The full width full front porch has the original turned posts, and new wood railing that is not sympathetic to the historic character. On the right is the front door and the left a large window with the upper transom surrounded by small panes. A one story rear wing is rear gabled, and extends west of the main structure covering a small side porch. The side porch retains the original spindle work railing and frieze overhead.

Significant Period:

Construction Date: 1887 - 1892

Architect/Builder: Unknown

Context: This building was not on the 1887 Sanborn Insurance Map, but did appear on the 1892 Map. W. Manwarring paid property taxes on a house and the entire lot in 1859, his wife in 1864. By 1877 through 1885 George Duff paid taxes on the east half of the lot. City water service was turned on at this site in April 1878. In 1879 Lieutenant George Duff, acting commander in charge, closed Fort Gratiot. City Directories list Lieutenant George Duff as residing on the south side of Pine or 724 Pine, from 1877 through 1894. However, a Miss Edith Holden boards at 732 Pine in 1893. Further research is needed. In 1899, clergyman Abiathar Beamer lived there, as well as Isaac Erb, an architect who designed buildings such as the Presbyterian Church and Victorian Inn. In 1901 John Sinclair lived there and in 1902 Thomas Lindsay. The Donald and Claribel MacQueen family lived there next for about twenty years. Donald was a foreman for the composing room at the Times-Herald newspaper, proprietor of MacQueen Rubber Stamp Company, and supervisor for the Sixth Precinct. Denver Leach, manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, lived there with his wife Erie in 1930. Violet Down, widow of George, lived there from 1933 to at least 1940.