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Northside Historic District
The artwork on
this sign was done by Chelsea Kouns as part of the 2004-05 "Designing Place"
class taught by Kathryn Maxwell at West Middle School in Martinsville.
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Click
here to view National
Register of Historic Places nomination. |
The Northside Historic
District is located just north and slightly east of Martinsville's downtown
area. This residential district represents a period of growth and prosperity
in Martinsville with a fine collection of late-nineteenth and
early-twentieth century houses. Many of the houses are situated on large
lots with uniform setbacks. The wide, tree lined streets—North Jefferson
Street is brick--give the area a cohesive feel.
The Northside Historic
District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
Click
here to see the nomination narrative.
The period spanning the
late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries was an era of significant
growth in Martinsville. The coming of the railroad, the development of
several large industries, and the opening of a number of mineral water
sanitariums boosted the local economy. Many of the town's businessmen and
industrialists had their homes built in the Northside Histoic District,
close to the downtown area.
One of the District's
most prominent late-nineteenth century houses is the Shirley-Bray House at
489 North Jefferson Street. Built in 1871, this
Italianate style
residence was the home of William Shirley, a prominent attorney. The house
was purchased in 1940 by William Bray, who served in the United States House
of Representatives from 1950-1974. It is now the home of his grandson, Rod
Bray, the house's third owner. All three owners have been attorneys.
Rod and Kelly Bray were
recognized with an honorable mention for their work in restoring the
exterior of the Shirley-Bray House during the 2005 Preservationist of the
year awards ceremony. Tina Chafey presents the award given by the
Morgan
County Historic Preservation Society.
The early-twentieth
century brought continued growth to the area. Owners of the Poston Brick
Company had a
Prairie style house built c.1910 at 110 East Harrison
Street. Other significant examples of the style include the houses at 290
and 465 East Harrison Street.
Prairie:
Poston House (c.1910), 110 East Harrison Street
Revival style
architecture is also well represented. The Frank Rose House at 415 North
Jefferson Street and the houses at 210 and 310 East Harrison Street
illustrate the
English Cottage style. The house at 250 East Harrison
Street is one of the finest examples of the Tudor Revival style in Morgan
County.
English
Cottage: Frank Rose House (c.1933), 415 North Jefferson Street
The district's only
public building is the former St. Martin's Catholic Church completed in
1888. Now home to the seventh Day Adventists, it is located at the corner of
Wayne and Pike Street.
The Northside Historic
District also includes the former New Highland Sanitarium on North Main
Street. Built in 1929 as a thoroughly modern addition to a pre-existing
complex dating to 1896, the sanitarium has been the Morgan House apartments
since 1971. To learn more about the new Highland Sanitarium, click
here.
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New Highland Sanitarium, c.1940 |
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