Midland Street Commercial District
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Midland Street Commercial District | |
 SW Corner of Midland and Walnut | |
   | |
 Interactive map showing the location of Midland Street Commercial District | |
| Location | Roughly bounded by John, Vermont, Catherine and Litchfield Sts., Bay City, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°36′6″N 83°53′57″W / 43.60167°N 83.89917°W |
| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Late Victorian, Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002827[1] |
| Added to NRHP | April 22, 1982 |
The Midland Street Commercial District is a primarily commercial historic district located primarily along Midland Street, between Catherine and Litchfield Streets, in Bay City, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1]
The west side of Bay City was developed much later than the east side. While the east side was settled in the late 1830s, it was not until 1863 that Henry Sage and Henry McGraw established a sawmill on the west side. They platted the small town of Wenona and began selling lots. Growth came quickly: by 1865 a plank road to Midland and a second road to Saginaw were opened, and the Third Street Bridge connecting Wenona to Bay City was constructed. By 1866 Wenona had over 1000 residents, and in 1867 a railroad line was laid, and the first brick building on Midland Street was built. Wenona and Midland Street became a railroad and commercial hub.[2]
However, by the turn of the century, the lumbering which had been an economic base was declining, and in 1903 the west side of the river was incorporated into Bay City, causing economic activity to slowly move to the east side of the river. Growth along Midland Street during the first part of the twentieth century was slow, and halted completely at the onset of the Great Depression. Because of this, the section of Midland Street remains much as it did in 1929.[2]
