Van Duzer, Samuel D., House

The Samuel D. Van Duzer residence is a nice example of the relatively rare Gothic Revival style in Saline and one of the City's earliest surviving homes. The Gothic arch of the central dormer is the only such use of Gothic fenestration in Saline's residential architecture. Other stylistic features include the use of pointed-arch eaves trim and the steep pitch of both roof and dormer. The stucco work took place under the ownership of Mrs. George V. Cook, who acquired the property in 1912 from Mrs. Agnes Van Duzer. George Cook had a livery business in Saline. According to the Saline Observer, the house was built by Caleb Van Husan, a merchant, then sold to William Davenport, and finally, through the Rouse Agency, to Samuel Van Duzer who occupied the residence for over 50 years. Tax records, however, indicate that Samuel Van Duzer was the original owner of the home. Van Duzer came to Saline in 1834 from New York state at the age of 14. His obituary notes that he was 'at one time a partner with Thomas Sanford in the dry goods business, but spent the greater part of his life as a clerk and bookkeeper'. In addition, he served in a number of Village posts, among them the committee to establish the first Village by-laws in 1866, trustee on the first village board of 1866, president in 1873 and 1892, and member of the building committee for the Corporation Brick building.

This one-and-a-half story frame building with a stucco veneer sits on a less-than-one-acre tree-shaded site in the residential neighborhood of S. Ann Arbor Street. The house contains a one-story rear addition and a more recently constructed stucco front porch. The steeply pitched gabled roof lies parallel to the street and is accented by a central dormer with a Gothic-arched window and pointed-arch eaves trim. The stuccoing of the home took place in 1913-14. The interior has been remodeled into apartments.