HomeMy WebLinkAboutBRN.1354 MACRIS inventory 1595 Rt. 6AInventory No:BRN.1354
Historic Name:Michelson,Alexsander House and
Store
Common Name:
Address:1595 Main St
City/Town:Barnstable
Village/Neighborhood:West Barnstable;
Local No:197-044;WBA-19A;
Year Constructed:1906
Architectural Style(s):No style;
Use(s):General Retail Store;Single Family Dwelling House;
Significance:Architecture;Commerce;Ethnic Heritage;
Area(s):BRN.M,BRN.N,BRN.O,BRN.AN
Designation(s):Local Historic District (05/01/1973);Nat'l Register MRA (03/13/1987);Nat'l Register District
(03/13/1987);
Building Materials:Roof:Asphalt Shingle;
Wall:Wood;Wood Shingle;
Foundation:Brick;
Demolished No
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FORM B - BUILDING
Massachusetts Historical Commission
80 Boylston Street
i«rnn Mas*;
Assessor's number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
197-044 iWBA 1 9A
OA - \)^Jl j N,*
Town Barnstable
here
thin
a V STREET
Recorded by ^a rtin E • Wirtanen
Qro^nifyt^nn Barnstable Historical Comm. Urbanization °dl Xia
RECEiyETT
Place (neighborhood or village) West Barnstable
Ea s t
Address 1 59 5 Main street
Historic Name Alexsander Michel son House/
Store
Uses: Present Residence/St ore
Original Residence/Store
Date of Construction 1906
Source Frederick A. Atwood. Local his t o r y
Style/Form Vernacular, two story
Architect/Builder
Exterior Material:
Foundation Brick, low height
Wall/Trim Wood shingle
Roof AsphaIt shingle
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures One barn
with east ell; one utility building
Major Alterations (with dates)
Condition Good
Moved 0 no • yes Date,
Acreage • 4 4
Setting Re s i dent i a 1
mte~(montF/day7year) February 5, 1 993
JUL 0 2 1996
Follow Massac bust tt torical Commission Survey Manual instructions foil pletmg this form.
MASS. HIST. COMM. , x
BUILDING FORM
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION • see continuation sheet
Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings within the
community. — —
Th i s unique combination store and house two story vernacular building was I
constructed with the store on the north end and the house on the south end., |
The building has gable roofs, some steep pitched and others moderate to
shallow. There are three chimneys, all with small cross section. One chimney
is on the outside in the corner of the north gable end and north side of the
east wing. ' Another chimney of short height is through the south roof near the
peak of the east wing near the juncture with the main north section roof.
The third chimney is of average height on the outside of the east facade of
the south end of the building south of the middle of the main structure. There
is a glassed in porch off the south gable end of the ell on the south gable
end of the building. The entrance door on the north gable store end is
centrally located and flanked with multipane windows. The panes are of
moderate size. The building has various combinations of small, medium and
large pane windows. The building has narrow trim.
It is located on the corner of the south side of the Old County Road
(Route 6A) and on the east side of Plum Street.
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE • see continuation sheet
Discuss the history of the building. Explain its associations with local (or state) history. Include uses of the building,
and the role(s) the owners/occupants played within the community.
Aiexsander Michelson was one of the earliest Finnish immigrants of many
that first settle in West Barnstable from 1895-1925 seeking work and
improved living conditions. His business ventures with this store and later
an adjacent garage were successful.
\
Previous Owners: •
1977 - Kenneth and Eleanor Ludwig
1975 - Reginald and Mary Nickerson
1969 - Robert Pratt and Robert G. McGlone
1957 - John H. Crocker
1942 - Leonard F. Fish
1942 - Avis E. Bacon
1921 - Peter and Leonard F. Fisk
1906 - Alexander Michelson from Lucy E. E1dridge.Land only
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES • see continuation sheet
Barnstable CountyAtlas, 1907.
Barnstable County Registry of Deeds.
Finnish History book. Whelden Memorial Library.
The Seven Villages of Barnstab1e,1976, Town of Barnstable, pgs. 452 & 453
Attachment 1. History of Grocery Store: East End of West Barnstable,
Frederick A. Atwood.
• Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked, you must attach a
completed National Regist Criteria Statement form. i
WHELDEN MEMOR'A? h*.SARY West Barnstable, MA 0 2668 M i
VV'TT SARM5TAF!L~, M.£^~. Aug. 28, 1974.
Whelden r- GROCERY STORE: EAST EH) of WEST BARl'STABLS
West Barnstable iviA Uk6b3 by Frederick A. Atwood
Alexander (Ferkaus) Michelson came from Raahe, Finland, July
1891, settled in "Vest Barnstable and worked for Abel D. I/Take peace
Co., on the Cranberry Bogs.
One day, while working with a compatriot, he soid to him:
"This is not my kin;': of work. I an going to learn English and
find my forte."
Alexander contacted the 'The Id en Sisters, v ho lived on the
corner of Church Street and Parker Road . he asked them if he could
hire then ar Tutors to teach him tfcr English Language. The Whelden
Sisters v/ere r.-r of e ss.tonal teachers; ?'r. ITiohslson was a good student
and became very fluent, speaking, reading, and writing English. lit
then became a clerk in the General Store owned by his employer.
After he learned the store business, he bought, u pea.c*' of pro-
perty on the corner of Carre- tt *e Lanof.novv Plum Street) and route 6A.
Here be built o building, one-half being his home ana the other half
his store and in 1996 was in business. At this time Far. Michelson
« was already married and had a family.
At first, locally, he delivered goods in a wheelbarrow until
he acquired a horse and wagon. Later he had a Stanley Steamer,
(which I once had a ride inland gasolene vehicles when thev became
practicable .
A. Michelson,fofficial name of the business)sold anything from
pianos to pins. Whatever he didn't have on hand cou] d be ordered r;,
through his store. He prospered and ran the store for fifteen years, \
after which, lie sold out and went into the automotive business.
In 1921, Fekka Fisk and his son Leonard(Leon&rd having been one
of Mr. Michelson's clerks)bought the store and continued the business
as P. Fisk & Son, C -cers. ^