Quick Facts

NPS Description

112 East Broadway Street. 1910. 

Non-contributing (built within the period of significance but subsequent alterations have sufficiently impacted integrity to render it non-contributing) 

Description

A two-story brick masonry commercial building covered in red painted EIFS. Beige decorative EIFS trim surrounds the two second-story windows and the storefront transom sign. The storefront has a recessed glass and aluminum center entry flanked by EIFS covered half walls with glass and aluminum display windows in the top half. There is a second floor entry door at the east end of the storefront. 

The south (rear) elevation is EIFS covered with replacement windows and entry. No other exterior elevation is visible due to adjoining buildings. 

History 

This building was constructed around 1910 to replace a one-story frame clothing store. In 1910, it is shown on the Sanborn maps (address 133 East Broadway) as a grocery store. It is notable for its continuity of use; it housed a jewelry store for at least 70 years, first as Voisin’s (at least 1926-1983) and then as Reusch Jewelers (1984-at least 1992). It also housed Carrie McDonald’s Hat Shop for many years (1928 to 1948). Other businesses included the Ray Cline Advertising Agency and Radio Station WCEN. It has been the Basketree since 1998. 

Integrity Analysis 

The late Italianate brick two-story building remained relatively intact for much of its history. Some alterations to the first floor storefront had occurred as early as the 1930s. A building permit for storefront alterations was probably for the wood plank storefront seen in ca. 1980s photographs. The current EIFS veneer was installed sometime between 1988 and 1993. The windows were replaced in 1993. 

Sources 

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (Mt. Pleasant: 1884, 1890, 1895, 1900, 1910, 1924, 1931, 1950); Mt. Pleasant City Directories, 1925-1998; Past and Present of Isabella County, 1911; City of Mt. Pleasant Building Permits; historic photographs.