When I was in Bay City I saw this old house on Center Ave near downtown and thought it looked majestic, it reminded me of the older homes in Detroit. Without knowing anything about this house I would find out just how significant it was. A few days after I took the pic I was roaming around the world wide web and a saw a photo of a house that looked familiar and then I realized, it’s the house in Bay City that I found so remarkable. Normally I take a photo of a house I know nothing about, I try to research about it and I can’t find any information, but this house was different.
I found out James Shearer built this house in 1876 and lived in it with his family. James Shearer was a builder and besides building this beautiful home, he built several buildings in Michigan, including the building Mill End was in that was recently raised to build new condominiums. He also was chosen by the Governor of Michigan in 1871 to supervise the construction of the state capital along with two other men.
If you’re in Bay City this weekend running the St Patrick’s Day road race you will run right past this magnificent old house. Or maybe you will see it while you are there watching the parade.