Richard C. Burtis House

R. C. Burtis House

Illustration from History of Tuscola and Bay Counties (1883)
Coordinates 43°26′52″N 83°31′20″W / 43.44778°N 83.52222°W / 43.44778; -83.52222Coordinates: 43°26′52″N 83°31′20″W / 43.44778°N 83.52222°W / 43.44778; -83.52222
Area 4.4 acres (1.8 ha)
Built 1879 (1879)
Architectural style Second Empire
NRHP Reference # 75000962[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP June 26, 1975
Designated MSHS November 15, 1973[2]

The Richard C. Burtis House or Wedding Cake House is a Historic Site in Tuscola County, Michigan. The two-story Second Empire building was built from 1879 to 1880 for Richard C. Burtis, a shoemaker and local landowner. Ornamentation includes brackets and a decorative frieze supporting a mansard roof with decorative slate shingle. A bay window topped by a steep octagonal tower dominates the front facade.

History

Work began in 1879 on 40 acres on the highest point in Tuscola County, Michigan. Located about 1/4th mile south of Caro Rd. in the logging village of Watrousville. Construction was finished in 1880 The house was designated a Michigan State Historic Site on November 15, 1973. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 26, 1975.[2]

Burtis Home 2012

Burtis

Richard C. Burtis was born in Pittstown, near Troy, New York, in April 1824.[3] While quite young, Burtis moved with his parents to Hoosick Falls, N.Y. When Burtis was only five years old, his father died. Burtis's mother and family soon moved to Troy, New York, where they resided about six years. Then they moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio, returning to Troy, New York in 1838. Burtis accepted a position in a grocery store, where he remained three years, at which point he went to Ithaca, New York and learned the shoemakers’ trade. He remained there three-and-a-half years and worked in nearly all of the Eastern cities for the following fifteen years.[4]

In 1855, Burtis went to Michigan on a hunting expedition, and two years later relocated to Watrousville, Tuscola County, where he engaged in shoemaking up to 1862. Burtis's brother died in 1862, and Burtis took ownership with his sister, Sara, in a general store. After seven years, Burtis took full ownership of the entire stock and conducted the store alone about thirteen years until he retired in 1882.[4]

Burtis also became the postmaster of Watrousville for four years, from 1862 to 1866, when the Postmaster General was given orders to relieve postmasters across the country and replace them with veterans returning from the Civil War. One-hundred-seventy were replaced in Michigan.[4]

Burtis married Miss Flora A. Chubb, of Nankin, Wayne County, Michigan, in 1868. Burtis and his wife remained in their home until his death on January 17, 1901, at the age of 77. The house was then sold to Byron Cole in 1901.[4]

Jobs/Possessions Held

Years Age Started Title
1838-1841 14 Grocer
1841-1845 17 Shoemaker apprentice
1845-1862 20 Shoemaker
1862-1882 34 Shop Keeper
1862-1866 34 Postmaster
1867-1876 38 Tresurer

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 Staff. "Burtis, Richard C., House". State Historic Preservation Office. Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Archived from the original on 2013-12-16. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  3. ↑ History of Tuscola and Bay Counties, Mich. Chicago, Illinois: H.R. Page & Co. 1883. p. 64.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "A DETAILED HISTORY OF WATROUSVILLE AND WESTERN TUSCOLA COUNTY". Watrousville-Caro Area Historical Society. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
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