The home built in 1873 on what is now East Main Street in Northville may soon be restored and used as business offices.
Members of the Northville Planning Commission unanimously approved the preliminary and final site plan for the historic building at 342 E. Main. The Italianate-style building was once the site of Dr. Yarnall's Gold Cure institute, a sanatorium for those suffering from alcohol and smoking addictions. Local business owner Dennis Engerer purchased the house in May 2022 and is planning the restoration and remodeling as designed by local architect Greg Presley of Presley Architecture.
In his application to the planning commission, Engerer noted that he had spent a year cleaning up the property. He said when the renovation is complete, the property would provide a historic gateway to the city.
Members of the commission called for specific reviews to be conducted by the DPW director and city engineer to ensure that the driveway width is acceptable since the building can't be moved; that the driveway at the loading/unloading zone allows enough room for other vehicles to pass a parked truck there and the grading plan/spot elevations along the driveway from the public sidewalk meet the ADA slope standards to provide barrier free access.
Engerer obtained approval for the project from the Northville Historic District Commission during an April 18 meeting. He will submit paint colors, roofing materials, doors, porch features (balustrades, posts, decking) at a future meeting, officials said. Evaluation of the revised landscape plans were referred to the city planner. The next step in the process is a detailed engineering and building plan review and approval before any construction begins on the site.
Engerer said he was willing to work with any conditions required by the planning commission members.
The house was built in 1873 by Northville pioneer Lewis H. Hutton who came to Northville in 1854 and manufactured buggies, wagons, and sleighs. He also owned and managed Northville Mills.
In 1897 Lewis Hutton sold the house to Dr. Yarnall for $3,000. The interior was updated with new paint, wallpaper, and wainscoting in every room. From 1897 to 1918 the building housed Dr. Yarnall's Gold Cure institute. Following Yarnall's departure, the house became a private residence and was later converted to apartments during the late 1920s. As of 1931, the house was occupied by two families, George E. and Cora Shoebridge and Susie J. Calkins.
