The Adrian Historical Society met Saturday morning at 325 E. Main street to learn some history and take in the beauty of this home, originally built by local doctor "Doc" Robinson. Constructed in the late teens, possibly early 1920's, it then was purchased by George Black in the 1960's; and through all, its original charm had been preserved to this day thanks to current owners Carol Gregg along with Clay and Alice Gregg.
With what would have been an initial $5,000 or so investment, these kit homes were offered with options such as pocket doors, French doors and ornate windows, some of which Doc Robinson chose to include. He also owned the home next door (to the west), which interestingly both sit a little higher on their foundations- a move that was done if it could be afforded that improved drainage and helped combat termites. In this case, yes, the basement is dry, free of cracks and there are zero signs of pests.
It's probable that the home was purchased through Sears or similar, then delivered by rail and assembled per detailed instructions. Deep inside walls, the skeleton is likely made of nail-bending native oak; base flooring is laid at a 45 degree angle to avoid squeaks and warping, then covered with a beautiful hardwood topping. Extreme detail lies in every piece of trim and even after 100+ years, every door opens and closes without binding. Plaster and lath behind wallpaper appears to be solid throughout with no deformities.
Compared to an energy efficient new kit home, this house could only survive due to the fact that it's built of the most solid and reliable materials that were, at the time, considered the only option but after a century they have proven to be the best option. Interestingly, upon the recent purchase by the Gregg's, they have only had to do some minor paint touch-up to restore the original luster. Consequently, this allowed them to focus more time on decorating using period correct furnishings, thus bringing the entire project full circle.
Oh, and in terms of efficiency, the Gregg's say that the heating bill is very comparable to a modern home. Bonus!
Shown here are some highlights of this rare piece of history:
Over 10 windows brighten the sun room at the rear of the home
Upon entry, guests may choose to step into the "Sitting" (living) room that includes built in shelves, pocket doors and original wallpaper
One of three upstairs bedrooms decorated with vintage and period correct furnishings
A central landing at the top of the stairs allows access to all second level rooms with ease
All furnishings came from a variety of sources including auctions, garage sales and more- then tastefully placed for optimum appeal
A trip up or down on 'creak free' stairs is a sure sign of craftmanship only known to homes of this quality
The spacious dining room provided the perfect location for the monthly meeting of the Adrian Historical Society
Below is an interesting artifact that was presented to the Historical Society during the meeting, a detailed card with the business name of Knight Mercantile Co. Anyone familiar with this business?
