omb no. 1024-0018 exp. 10-31-84 united states …...schmitt, pp• 88-95. geographical data:...

v

NPS Form 10·900·8 (3-82)

United States Department of the Interior National Park Service

National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form

Continuation sheet Item number

OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84

01

to the house was also constructed at this time). Whether the building ever perfonned Its original function Is unclear; however, It Is known that by 1885 the dwelling had become a house for privileged women patients. It was later used by hospital staff families for a number of years. In the early 1960s the structure was restored as a private museum. It present! y houses the museum and some office space.

Bib llography:

Blcknel I, A. J., Detail, Cottage and Constructive Architecture, A. J. Blcknel I & Co., New York, 1873.

Schmitt, PP• 88-95.

Geographical Data: Acreage: Less than one acre Quadrangle Name: Kalamazoo Quadrangle Scale: 1:24000 UTM Reference: 16 615440 4681750

Verbal Boundary Description and Justification:

Commencing at a point on the W'ly R.o.w. line of Oakland Dr. at Its Intersection with the N'ly line of Wheaton Ave. extended In Sec. 21 T 2 S, R 11 W for P.O.B. Thence continuing W'ly In sd extended line 150 ft., thence N'ly par. with sd Oakland Dr. 125ft., thence E'ly par. with sd extended street line 150ft. to Oakland Dr., thence S' ly aloDJ sd Oakland Dr. 125ft. to P.O.B. This description Is Intended to describe the lot at 1006 Oakland Or., a part of the Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Center grounds.

Historic Name: John Gibbs House (photo 103) Common Name: Same Location: 3403 Parkvlew Avenue Date of Construction: c. 1853-54 Architect: Unknown Builder: John Gibbs<?>

C I ass If I cation: Category: building Ownership: public--

Pub lie Acqul sltlon: Status: occupied Accesslb le: no

'western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Ml 49008

N/A

Present Use: residential

Description: Cond ltlon: good Unaltered

NPS Form 10·900·1 (3-82)




Original Site

OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84

Page 102

The Gibbs House Is a two-story, five-bay, center-entrance structure with a low, hlp roof. Characteristic Greek Revival features Include the simple, six-over-six windows; the conservative, denticulated entlt> lature; and the sidelight-and-pilaster front entranceway. The small front porch may be a later addition or a very early, ltallanate form constructed as part of the original structure. The foundation's exterior finish, consisting of rounded cobblestones laid In horizontal rows, Is an example of nineteenth-century, New York-style, cobblestone construction.

S lgn If lcance: Period: 1800-1900 Areas of Significance: architecture, exploration/settlement

The Gibbs House Is notable as the home of Kalamazoo-area pioneer John Gibbs and as a well preserved and handsome, Greek Revival farmhouse dating fran the mid-nineteenth century.

The John Gibbs House Is one of several fine Greek Revival farmhouses (the A. J. Stevens House, 4024 Oakland, Is another) that are located In the southwest corner of the city on what was once rich farm land. John Gibbs was one of Kalamazoo's earliest and best known pioneers. He came here from New York state In the early 1830s. Tradition has It that he journeyed to nearby Genesee Prairie In Oshtano Township looking for · land and was shown this parcel (on the edge of the prairie) by the area's first black settler, Enoch Harris, who lived nearby. Gibbs liked what he saw and purchased the farmland In 1832. Records show that Gibbs was an enterprising man: local politician, fanner, mil !wright, carpenter, and adventurer. Although verification Is not certain, It appears that Gibbs might have constructed this home himself about 1854 after returning from a successful trip to California's gold country with one of his thirteen children. He lived In this home with his wife Miranda until his death In 1881 at age 85. In the late nineteenth century the Michigan Asylum for the Insane operated a cooperative farm termed the "colony farm" across the street fran the Gibbs' house. Employing the hospital's patients In supervised farm activities, the farm was a success and for many years supplied the hospital with much of Its food. The Gibbs farm was Incorporated Into the hospital 1 s property and housed the poultry operations. The "colony fann" was closed down In the middle of this century and the Gibbs fann and house became the property of Western Michigan University's Agricultural Department. The home Is the residence of the Agricultural Department's director and the farm Is stll I cultivated by the university.

B lb llography:

Kalamazoo Gazette: 2-17-1854, P• 2; 2-8-1856; 12-26-1856, P• 2; 10-9-1881, P• 4.

Kalamazoo Weekly Gazette: 12-6-1889, P• 3; 2-21-1896, P• 9.

Kalamazoo Dally Telegraph: 10-10-1881, P• 3; 1-3-1896, P• 2.

Fisher and Little, PP• 136-37.

Geographical Data: Acreage: Less than one acre Quadrangle Name: Kalamazoo SW

NPS Form 10·900·a (J.82)




Quadrangle Scale: 1:24000 UTM Reference: 16 612160 4679280

Verbal Boundary Description and Justification:

OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84

Page 103

Commencing at theN 1/4 post Sec. 31 T 2 s. R 11 w. thence W 308ft. for P.O.B •• thence continuing W along N Sec. line 220ft •• thence S 200ft •• thence E 220ft •• thence N 200ft. to P.O.B •• reserving, however, the N 33 ft. for right-of-way purposes. This description Is Intended to describe the lot at 3403 Parkvlew, part of the Western Michigan University campus.

~Historic Name: Andrew J. Stevens House (photo 104> Common Name: Same Location: 4024 Oakland Drive Date of Construction: 1854 Architect: Bull der:

Unknown Unknown

Classification: Category: building Ownership: Montague K. Myers

4024 Oakland Dr· Kalamazoo, Ml 49008

Public Acquisition: N/A Status: occupied Accesslb le: no Present Use: residential

Description: CondIt I on: good Unaltered Original site

Located on tree-lined Oakland Drive and sited well back from the road, the Stevens House Is a frame, Greek Revival structure with a two-story, end-gable, main section and one-and-one-half-story, flank-gable wing containing the principal entrance, set at the back of a square-post veranda. The house retains Its original double-hung, six-over-six windows and virtually alI of Its original trim. The home Is stll I a single-family residence.

S lgn If lcance: Period: 1800-1900 Areas of Significance: architecture

The A. J. Stevens House Is significant as one of Kalamazoo's few surviving examples of an L-plan, Greek

Revival farmhouse. The house was built In 1854 for Andrew Jackson Stevens and his wife, Martha. A fanner,

NPS Form 10·900·8 (3-82)




Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group

OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84

Page 1 J=3 dnr-11

Name Kalamazoo Multiple Resource Area State ---=~M7i~c~h~i~g~a-n~~~~~~~~~-----------------------------------------

Nomination/Type of Review

' 1. Bronson Park Historic Distri~ter~d in the National Register

Date/Signature

frt{eper

Attest

· 2. Haymarket Historic District Entered in thO'. ~per , ~ .5ft7 /.9) National Beg1ater

Attest

3. Stuart Neighborhood/Henderson~ ~red in tli ~per ~ ~--;{7kt) Park Historic District 1ontl Ptg1ster

Attest

4. Vine Area Historic District ~os.t.ii.Iltiva eview Keepe• \il:/t ti}..;:,o0vi>- Pjt/t3 · I

5. Rose Place Historic District ~

" 6. Marlborough E:nt red in the National Regieter

Attest

Weeper ~~ .J.-I-7/If'J

Attest

fK'eeper .~.~ ;,?7/JJ Attest

Su'6stan'ITve IE 'D"eter~1necfmltgru.e . . )7. Lilienfeld, David ,_HQ.llS..e ~- eview Keeper C'-if?M: · & 1/_ c:-;,cry~,.L

JJE/OWNER OBJECTION ° - - - - - - ·- - - --- Attest

8. Gilbert, Henry, House

9. Brown, Isaac, House

' 1o.state Theater

Substantive Review

Entered in the National Register

Keeper ~d li_,cJ"r:>~ciL

Attest

~per {Jxf--J!_. •. :L~-4-?_./ :;), /r3

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTOniC PLACES UftftM ~ D•ll• btuM af {M .... ,....

Netional hft leMce

Gibbs; ·John, House (Kalamazoo MRA) Kalamazoo County MICIDGAN

reaubmlaalon nomination by penon or local government Qw~~r ob~ect!On

appeal

£VAUJATION I RETURN SHEI .

Substantive Review: _sample _request .:..._ appeal _ NR decision

Reviewer's commenta:

Recom. /Crlt•rla ------Reviewer-----------Discipline ________ _

Oat•------------------------ ... cot~tlnuatlon sheet

.Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons dlscusud below

1. Name

3. Classification .... ....... f 1 I tUct

4. Owner of Property

5. Location of Legal Description

6. Representation in Existing Surveys

... -.._.,----- ..... , 7. Description

Qed~ - Clloecll. --- ------ _....,.. _ _ ...,. -- -- -- -- ..... __ _ _..,....

summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/ Integ rlty dates

,... ..

8. Significance

.,_., •••••= ... •--'CIICIIe••••..,. ,_...,-........... ....._. ..... " .. ---· ............ _ ... - ...... .......

~ummary paragraph completeness Clarity

__ -epplicable criteria

-justification of areas

checked relating significance to

the resource context relationship of Integrity

to significance justification of exceptic,n other

9. Major Bibliographical References

10. Geographical Data ,...... .. _,., __ .....,., _____ _ ...... _____ _ -'"'*'=-

~•• f t • obtt .... ,..IMaatlca

11. Form Prepared By

12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification

,.-.... ----~----_ ....

-13. Other

_Maps _~ Photographs

Other

-

Questions concerning th1s nomination may be directed to----------------

Signed --------------- Oat e ---------- Phone : 202 272- 35C

PHOTo ~ Jollr.t G IB&S H 01.1J€

'/;30CD8$g

103

John Gibbs House 3403 Parkview Avenue Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

Gary Cialdella April 1981 Neg. : Ka 1 amazoo His tori ca 1 Commission

Exterior from the north Photo no. 103 of 105

Please refer to the map in the

Multiple Property Cover Sheet

for this property

Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000327 --=------=--.::~---

February 23, 1982

Dr. Martha M. Bigelow, Director Michigan History Division Michigan Department of State Lansing, MI 48919 ATTN: Kathryn Eckert

Dear Dr. Bigelow:

Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008

Vice President for Finance

Re: Nomination to the National Register of Historic Places of: John Gibbs House 3403 Parkview Avenue Kalamazoo

WMU is the sole owner of the above property.

The University does not intend to dispose or demolish the building and intends on continued use of it. It does not believe that placing it on the Register of Historic Places is of any benefit, therefore, we object to having it nominated to the Register.

Robert B. Wetnight Treasurer

SHIRLEY R. MIARS Notary Public Kalamazc:> Countv Ml My Commission Expires June 12; i985

omb no. 1024-0018 exp. 10-31-84 united states …...schmitt, pp• 88-95. geographical data:...

Documents