Downtown Walk - Red Dots

DOWNTOWN WALKING TOUR - Follow the Red Dots

1. 305 W Michigan Ave. First Baptist Church Religious Gothic, 1851 Until 1851 the Baptist Society worshiped in Mechanics Hall (now Stagecoach Inn), the courthouse and several homes. This is the oldest church building in Marshall.
2. 307 W Michigan St. Bailey & Church Drug Store Italianate, 1866 This is the last commercial building in Marshall with an original sheltering roof over the sidewalk, popular in 19th century Marshall.
3. 309 W Michigan Ave. Church-Marshall-Sherman House Italianate, 1873 This house and store combo were originally located on the southeast corner of Court House Square (where the fountain is now). It was the town doctor’s office and residence from the time it was built until 1972.
4. 323 W Michigan Ave. Old Stone Barn/Town Hall Greek Revival, 1857 Originally built as a stage coach stop and livery stable, it then became the first drive-in gas station/garage in Marshall until it was converted into a combination police station, fire station and town hall by Harold C. Brooks in 1930. Now it serves as Marshall City Hall and the Marshall Welcome Center.
5. Brooks Memorial Fountain Greek Revival, 1930 Gifted to the city by Harold C. Brooks for its 1930 centennial celebration as a memorial to his father, this fountain is a replica of Marie Antoinette’s Temple of Love from Versailles, France and features a light show.
6. 411 W Michigan Ave. Crary Hall Condominiums Beaux Arts, School 1923-1977 Three schoolhouses occupied this site, two of which were destroyed by fire. These are the first condominiums in Calhoun County.
7. 102 S Parkview St. National House Inn Greek Revival, 1835 Believed to be the first brick building in Calhoun County and built with bricks fired on-site. The oldest operating inn in Michigan.
8. 424 W Michigan Ave. Sibley House Federal, ca 1840 The crow-stepped gable ends on either end of the roof are a Dutch characteristic most notably found in New York. Originally a single-family residence, it was remodeled in 1946 into several apartments.
9. 416 W. Michigan Queen Anne, ca 1900
10. 107 N Kalamazoo Ave. Honolulu House Museum Italian Villa, Polynesian, Gothic Details, 1860 Built by Judge Abner Pratt, a U.S. Consul to the Sandwich Islands (now the Hawaiian Islands) in the 1850s. Contains outstanding paint-on-plaster decorations.
11. 107 N Park St. Crary-Frink House Bank, Italianate, 1841  Constructed by Judge Pratt as a wedding gift for his daughter, Bellona, when she married his law partner, Isaac Crary. Crary helped plan Michigan’s public school system and was Michigan’s first U.S. Representative to Congress, elected three times to Congress and twice to the legislature.
12. 108 N Park Ave. The Crary Fragment Greek Revival, 1834  This structure was the rear wing of Isaac Crary’s first home in Marshall and housed the servants quarters. The front portion of the house was moved to 111 North Linden Street in 1912. Together, they are the oldest “residence” still standing in Marshall. Crary’s law office was built in 1832 and stood just south of this fragment, on Michigan Avenue. In 1895 it was moved to 316 South Linden Street where it is now a private dwelling.
13. 302 W Michigan Ave.  Service Station, 1925
14. 216 W Mich Ave Interurban Operation of the Jackson-Kalamazoo branch of the electric railway, known as the Interurban, ran from 1889 to 1929 down the center of Michigan Avenue.
15. 151 W Mich Ave Opera House In April of 1870, the Eagle Opera House opened on the third floor of this building and hosted a variety of live performances through 1903. Notice the high roofline.
16. 143 W Mich Ave Wagner Block. Martin Wagner, Marshall mayor, patent broker and third owner of the Honolulu House, had famous Chicago architect John Mills VanOsdel design this building.
17. 139 W Mich Ave Fire Station The first fire company in Marshall was established in 1840, moving to this building in 1855. All early engines were drawn by firemen, horses took over in 1870.
18. 124 W Mich Ave First National Bank of Marshall. In 1840, Charles T. Gorham founded a private bank at this site. After printing over 2 million dollars worth of U.S. national currency, this bank closed in 1934.
19. 101 W Mich Ave Cronin Block. By 1907, the Cronins were operating a bakery and clothing, grocery and shoe stores. Jay Cronin’s daughters, Elizabeth and Virginia, operated the business until 1974.
20. 202 E Mich Ave U.S. Post Office  Howard F. Young (1889-1934) designed this Greek Revival post office, city hall, Brooks Memorial Fountain and Brooks Mansion in Marshall.
21. 310 E Mich Ave Brooks Rupture Appliance Bldg. Appliances (ie. special cushions) for people suffering from hernias were manufactured in this building.
22.  100 Exchange St Marshall House. When built in 1838, this hotel was known as the most elaborate and costly hotel in the state of Michigan.
23. 402 E Mich Ave GAR Hall  Constructed as a meeting place for Grand Army of the Republic Civil War veterans, now you can see goods that Marshall residents built ad sold, including a folding bathtub.