A walk through history

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 — The Historical Society of Greater Lansing’s next installment of its summer walking tours begins in downtown Lansing and will display five homes on Capitol Avenue, Genesee Street and Seymour Street. Cathy Babcock, a former director of the Lansing Art Gallery will conduct the tour.

“The walking tour will cover both the historical and architectural aspects of the homes,” said Valerie Marvin, president of the Historical Society. “The homes have been converted to offices.”

Homes shown and discussed on the tour will include one of downtown’s first apartment buildings and former homes of a Michigan Supreme Court Justice, a former president of Michigan Agricultural College, an auto pioneer and an early Lansing industrialist.

“Many of us drive by these homes every day not knowing of their importance in Lansing history,” Marvin said.

One example she cites is the current Maurer-Foster building at 615 N. Capitol Ave., which was originally the home of William Newbrough who was one of the founders of the New Way Motor Co.

Another house that will be shown was the home of T. C. Abbot, located at 327 Seymour St. Abbot was one of the early presidents of Michigan Agricultural College and built the home for his retirement.

Architectural styles of the homes vary, including stick style, Romanesque, neo-classical and even Spanish revival.

“The tours are an easy and informal way of learning about the city’s history while getting an overview of architectural styles,” Marvin said.

The tour will last only one hour, giving participants plenty of time to arrive for Common Ground Music Festival’s events happening the same night as the tour.

Historic Downtown Houses Walking Tour

7 p.m. Thursday, July 9

FREE

Meet in front of the Carnegie Library

210 W. Shiawassee St., Lansing

(517) 282-0671, lansinghistory.org