State Nominates 16 Sites to the National Register of Historic Places

LANSING, Mich., Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), part of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, announced the nomination of 16 properties to the National Register of Historic Places, the nation's list of sites worthy of preservation.

The State Historic Preservation Review Board approved the nominations on September 19.

"The properties in this group range from downtown historic districts to churches to the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, and shipwrecks," said State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway. "While we nominate properties at meetings throughout the year, this group clearly demonstrates the variety of important historic resources in Michigan. The fact that people came forward to nominate them shows people's interest in history and their recognition that these sites are important to communities and to Michigan as a whole."

Members of the congregations of King Solomon Baptist Church and Spiritual Israel Church and Its Army in Detroit filled the room to watch the presentation of the nominations for their churches. Nominations for four shipwrecks located in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron were presented by Wayne Lusardi, the sanctuary's state maritime archaeologist.

The list of properties includes:

• Pewabic Shipwreck Site, Alpena Township, Alpena County
• St. Louis Downtown Historic District, St. Louis, Gratiot County
• Walter H. French Junior High School, Lansing, Ingham County
• Mt. Pleasant Downtown Historic District, Mt. Pleasant, Isabella County
• Peoples National Bank Building, Jackson, Jackson County
• Warren A. and Catherine (Dempsey) Cartier House, Ludington, Mason County
• Morgan West Wheatland Cemetery, Wheatland Township, Mecosta County
• Wing-Allore House, Monroe, Monroe County
• Etruria Shipwreck Site, Presque Isle Township, Presque Isle County
• Schooner M. F. Merrick Shipwreck Site, Presque Isle Township, Presque Isle County
• Schooner Kyle Spangler Shipwreck Site, Presque Isle Township, Presque Isle County
• Saginaw County Fairgrounds Main Gate, Saginaw, Saginaw County
• Amity Lodge No. 335 Temple/Spiritual Israel Church and Its Army Temple, Detroit, Wayne County
• Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Grosse Pointe Shores, Wayne County
• Springwells Park Historic District, Dearborn, Wayne County
• Temple Baptist Church/King Solomon Baptist Church, Detroit, Wayne County

The SHPO also announced the listing of the Frank and Dorothy Ward House in Battle Creek in the national register. The nomination was presented to the review board at its January 2014 meeting.

The State Historic Preservation Review Board considers nominations to the register three times per year. On behalf of the review board, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) forwards nominations to the keeper of the National Register, National Park Service, U. S. Department of the Interior, for listing. To read the nomination forms for these properties and see photographs, visit Michigan.gov/nrhp. Click on "Michigan State Historic Preservation Review Board."

The SHPO 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 (SHPO) is financed in part by a grant from the National Park Service, Department of Interior. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of the Interior. The Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on its federally funded assistance programs. If you believe you've been discriminated against please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C. St. NW, Washington DC 20240.

The State Historic Preservation Office is part of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), which provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents and to engage in community economic development activities to revitalize urban and rural communities.

MSHDA's loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds as well as notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. Proceeds are loaned at below-market interest rates to developers of rental housing, and help fund mortgages and home improvement loans. MSHDA also administers several federal housing programs. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mshda.

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SOURCE Michigan State Housing Development Authority