Jan. 29, 2009

Michigan's State Historic Preservation Review Board today announced that two west Michigan properties - Mary's City of David Historic District in Berrien County and the Nathaniel and Esther Savidge Robbins House in Ottawa County - were included among seven nominations recently submitted to the National Register of Historic Places.

Additional nominated properties from throughout the state include:

• Richter Brewery in Escanaba (Delta County);
• Lake Linden Historic District (Houghton County);
• Lansing Downtown Historic District (Ingham County);
• H. Augustus and Agnes Cleveland O'Dell House in Bloomfield Hills (Oakland County); and
• River Terrace Apartments in Detroit (Wayne County).

"The properties nominated to the National Register this month reflect the great diversity of story and place among Michigan's many historic sites," said Mark Hoffman, acting director of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. "The Lake Linden Historic District in the Upper Peninsula's Copper Country represents Michigan's proud industrial past, while Mary's City of David in Benton Harbor captures the presence of a long-standing religious community. These are all historically significant properties worthy of being preserved and shared with future generations."

As a result of National Register designation, the owners of income-producing individually listed properties or contributing buildings in a district will be eligible to apply for federal historic preservation tax credits. Single-resource local historic districts and contributing buildings located in local historic districts will be eligible to apply for state historic preservation tax credits.

Mary's City of David Historic District, 1158 E. Britain Ave., Benton Harbor

Mary's City of David was established in 1930 following a split in the Christian Israelite House of David religious community in Benton Harbor. The nominated property comprises 140 acres and 81 buildings, most of which date from the 1930s and 1940s. Mary's City of David had farms and industries that provided goods for market as well as to support colony members. In addition, the community operated a hotel, café and bakery in Benton Harbor.

During the 1930s the community flourished as a resort that welcomed Jewish vacationers, which was rare during this time. In 1938 Mary built a Jewish hospital and a synagogue, the latter with a rabbi's house added in 1942. The bond between Mary's City of David and the Jewish community survives to this day, with people returning for reunions. Mary's City of David continues to rent cottages and welcome the public to dine in its restaurant.

Nathaniel and Esther Savidge Robbins House, 20 S. Fifth St., Grand Haven

In 1899 and 1900 Grand Haven businessman Nathaniel Robbins had a grand 8,500-square-foot Colonial Revival house built for his wife, Esther. Nathaniel Robbins V was a member of a seafaring family from Cape Cod, Mass. His father operated lumber sailing vessels between Benton Harbor and Grand Haven. One of his many business interests in Grand Haven included serving as ticket agent for the Goodrich Steamship Line, which provided service between Grand Haven and Chicago. Robbins hired Baldus Pellegrom, a Grand Haven carpenter and ship's carpenter to build his house.

The State Historic Preservation Review Board considers nominations to the register three times per year. The review board forwards nominations to the keeper of the National Register, Department of the Interior. The State Historic Preservation Office coordinates the National Register Program in Michigan. For information on the National Register of Historic Places and other programs of the State Historic Preservation Office, visit www.michigan.gov/shpo or call (517) 373-1630.

The State Historic Preservation Office is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the department also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Photos of the Mary's City of David Historic District and the Nathaniel and Esther Savidge Robbins House are available for download at: http://picasaweb.google.com/mipreservation/JanuaryNominationsToNationalRegisterOfHistoricPlaces?feat=directlink.

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