Jeremiah Cronin, Jr. House/John Bellairs
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S5280ft
N 42° 16.623 W 084° 57.479
16T E 668382 N 4682556
Quick Description: Located on the west side of Madison Street about 0.2 miles north of Prospect Street. Parking available.
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 3/15/2007 7:04:57 PM
Waymark Code: WM1AGK
Views: 100
Long Description:JEREMIAH CRONIN, JR. HOUSE
This picturesque residence was erected in 1872 for Marshall
merchant Jeremiah Cronin, Jr., and his wife, Susan. Local
contractor Frederick N. Church constructed this house, as well as
Cronin's 1869 Michigan Avenue commercial block. On September 5,
1872, the Calhoun County Patriot and Democratic Expounder predicted
that the house would be the "most stylish" in the city. The Italian
villa reflects the Cronin family's standing in the community. When
Jeremiah died in 1889, Susan took over the business as the S. E.
Cronin Store. Their son Jay became manager in 1907. By then, the
Cronins were operating clothing, grocery and shoe stores and a
bakery. Jay Cronin's daughters operated the business until 1974.
JOHN BELLAIRS
This house was built in 1872 for Jeremiah and Susan Cronin. One
hundred years later it provided the setting for "The House with a
Clock in Its Walls", a teenage mystery novel written by Marshall
native John Bellairs. Bellairs (1938-1991) was born in Marshall and
graduated from Marshall High School. After earning degrees from the
University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, he taught
writing at several colleges and authored eighteen books, mostly for
children. From 1973 to 1976 he wrote three books with Marshall
settings. When explaining why he wrote for children, Bellairs
noted: "In my imagination I repeatedly walk up and down the streets
of the beautiful old Michigan town where I grew up. It is full of
Victorian mansions and history, and it would work on the creative
mind of any kid."
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