Object Details
- General
- The Curtiss House is an historic property built in the Queen Anne/Tudor Revival style at the end of the 19th century. Previous owners of this approximately one-half acre corner lot had landscaped around the house only. Now all the grounds are filled with color and texture including inner gardens accessible through two gates in wrought iron fencing salvaged from a convent and three garden areas outside the fencing. In the inner gardens textures play off each other in curving beds accented with rocks, some of which were bartered for beer or scavenged near Lake Superior. Fethe private gardens, features include a three tiered working fountain planted as a container, a patio made from salvaged brick, and a hidden contemplation garden next to the carriage house on the property that has a wooden swing and a salvaged bronze wall fountain at the terminus. Two marble benches were built from salvage, and a wall built from broken concrete is covered with ivy. Wooden fencing adds privacy and along with the plant material reduces the traffic noise.
- The gardens outside the fences are visible to the public and designed to enhance but not obscure the house. One area of iron fencing alongside the driveway is draped in five varieties of roses as well as iris, clematis and yew. The front yard and two side yards are planted with islands of trees with lower tiers of pachysandra, hosta and forest ferns from the upper peninsula of Michigan. Stained cement blocks were used for two container gardens that are planted with vegetables, herbs and annuals on a rotation schedule.
- The Center Avenue Historic District of Bay City, Michigan was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Curtiss House Gardens were included in the Bay City Garden Club's garden walk in 2010.
- Persons associated with the garden include: Charles B. Curtiss I, Charles B. Curtiss II, Charles B. Curtiss III (former owners, 1892-1971); William and Toni Holtzapple (former owners, 1971-1987); Ruth Koerber and John Kleekamp (former owners, 1987-1996); Craig and Maureen Johnston (former owners, 1996-2003); William H. Miller (architect, 1891-92).
- Former owner
- Holtzapple, William
- Kleekamp, John
- Johnston, Craig
- Curtiss, Charles B. I
- Koerber, Ruth
- Johnston, Maureen
- Holtzapple, Toni
- Curtiss, Charles B. III
- Curtiss, Charles B. II
- Creator
- Miller, William H.
- Collection Creator
- Garden Club of America
- Place
- The Curtiss House Gardens (Bay City, Michigan)
- United States of America -- Michigan -- Bay -- Bay City
- Topic
- Gardens -- Michigan -- Bay City
- Former owner
- Holtzapple, William
- Kleekamp, John
- Johnston, Craig
- Curtiss, Charles B. I
- Koerber, Ruth
- Johnston, Maureen
- Holtzapple, Toni
- Curtiss, Charles B. III
- Curtiss, Charles B. II
- Creator
- Miller, William H.
- See more items in
- The Garden Club of America collection
- The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Michigan
- Sponsor
- A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
- Custodial History
- The Bay City Garden Club facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.GCA, File MI084
- Type
- Archival materials
- Collection Citation
- Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
- Collection Rights
- Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
- Bibliography
- This property is featured on www.mybaycity.com
- Scope and Contents
- The folder includes worksheets web links to articles and historic images.
- Collection Restrictions
- Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
- Record ID
- ebl-1643208220039-1643210181210-0
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