Benjamin Williams House

Benjamin Williams House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	628 N. Ball St., Owosso, Michigan
Coordinates	43°00′14″N 84°10′19″W
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1838 (1838)
Built by	Benjamin Williams
Architectural style	Greek Revival
MPS	Owosso MRA
NRHP reference No.	80001913
Added to NRHP	November 4, 1980

The Benjamin Oliver Williams House is a single-family home located at 628 North Ball Street in Owosso, Michigan, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

History

Benjamin O. Williams founded Owosso in 1836 with his brother Alfred (whose house is nearby). The two brothers recruited potential settlers and manufacturers to the area. Benjamin Williams spent the next few years traveling in search of investors, and stayed in temporary quarters when in Owosso. However, in 1838 he built this small house on West Oliver Street as his permanent residence in his town. The home was moved to its current location on Ball Street some time after 1868. The home has also served as the residence of local craftsperson and painter Henry H. Daniels, who purchased the home from Williams some time before 1876, and Daniel's daughter, Nina, and her husband, John Dettwiler.

Description

The Benjamin Williams House is a small L-shaped wood-framed Greek Revival house. It is constructed of hand-hewn beams and clad in clapboard. The main section is two bays wide and two stories high, and features balanced window location and an oddly proportioned corniceline with returns. The side section one story high and has a recessed facade, two-over-two double hung sash windows, and an original glass transom over the front door. It also has an extended porch-like roofline supported by columns and a full entablature.