MUSKEGON, MI -- Dozens of residents gathered Wednesday to watch a 155-year-old Italianate mansion be wheeled through the streets of downtown Muskegon. The mansion, known as the Nelson House, was first a private residence and later served as the rectory for the long-vacant St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church.
Purchased by Muskegon Public Schools, it was set to be demolished before the city of Muskegon expressed interest. City leaders just purchased it in June for a nominal fee of $100. The cost of the move and setting a new foundation is near $230,000.
The house was moved from its location at 1292 Jefferson St. to a vacant, city-owned lot at 382 W. Muskegon Avenue by Deitz House Moving Engineers of Fruitport.
“As I look at this I think, ‘Wow, I can really see how this used to be a beautiful mansion,’” said resident Dave Duggan, who was taking pictures as the house rolled through the corner of Third Street and Webster Avenue. The mansion was built in 1869 at what is now Hackley Park by Charles D. Nelson.
It features a curved main staircase and intricately carved wood reliefs and wood paneled doors. Nelson was in the lumber business and served the community in many ways: he was the first register of deeds for the county, supervisor of the Village of Muskegon from 1862-67, a city alderman for four terms and president of the board of education. He later served as a state senator, and the former Nelson School was named after him in 1926.
The house was first moved in 1891 from.
