1101 College Avenue
This house was built by one of the most prominent builders and contractors in the Houghton area.
In 1849, William Brimacombe Sr., one of the most prominent builders and contractors in the area at that time, built this house for his son, William Brimacombe Jr. This two-story house features yellow lap siding with white trim and a white cornic. The roof is the most distinct feature of the house. It is similar to a gambrel roof style, but the flat top instead of a peak indicates that it is a mansard roof. The interior contains a square floor plan and wood trim that has since been painted over.
William Jr. lived there with his wife, Sarah, along with their six children until his demise in 1893. Sarah and the children continued living there for many years and a garage was added on to the property in 1922. In 1929, Sarah sold the house to Chester and Evadane Smith. Chester Smith was a mechanical engineer at Atlas Power Co. The couple lived there for the next 57 years until Chester’s death in 1979. Evadane lived there for seven more years and then sold the house to the Delta Upsilon fraternity in 1986.
Sources: Kosmatka, K. (2003, Spring) College Ave Research Project 1101 College Ave. Report prepared for SS 3515 History of American Architecture at Michigan Technological University; Image: Vernacular Architecture Forum. (2024). 1101 College Ave. North of the Northwoods: From Mines to Motels on Michigan’s Lake Superior (p. 59). photograph.