When the city of East Lansing was acquired in 1907, its borders - near Gunson Street and Harrison Avenue - were covered with farmland, orchards and swampland.
Today, each street is lined by businesses, single-family homes and student housing.
A presentation by Richard Wright, former East Lansing Historic District Commission member and architect, sought to help residents understand the development and architecture in the city.
The event, which was held Saturday at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road, was sponsored by the East Lansing Historical Society, is the first of a few programs the society holds each year to help inform residents about different aspects of the city’s past and how it will affect the future.
“Everybody knows we have a diverse group of people in East Lansing, both attitudes and taste, not to mention that everything was developed at different times,” Wright said. “There are some very treasured buildings downtown that are mostly rentals now.”
Wright explained the city’s eclectic collection of homes are not a result of students and permanent residents growing up in different generations with different ideas about decorating.
There are noticeable differences between areas of the city that were originally annexed, and those that were developed prior to annexation. One indicator is a house built on a tiny lot between two full-sized lots, or areas with no full sidewalks.
“Just because it wasn’t annexed doesn’t mean it wasn’t developed,” Wright said. “Builders didn’t just build a whole subdivision then. They built one or two lots.”
Society President Ronald Springer said members try to preserve the history of the city’s buildings and its residents - no matter how diverse they are.
“You can go across the street in some places and it’s like night and day,” Springer said.
Although most of the historical homes in the city have been well-preserved, Springer said there is a distinct difference in the way the homes are used.
“Four or five college students put more wear and tear on a house than mommy, daddy and the two little tykes,” Springer said. “When you come home you’re not thinking, ‘Oh, I’ve got to mow the lawn this weekend.’ You’re thinking, ‘Oh, I’ve got this test to study for.’ And you know the parents didn’t have the kind of parties the students have.”
Karen Owen, who is a recent addition to the historical society, recently purchased a historical home on Harrison Avenue, and is interested in certain architectural trends in the city.
The home, she said, was sturdy, but needed cosmetic repairs.
“It think it’s good to live in a rich history,” Owen said. “We went into the house and said, ‘It has potential.’”
