Henry Montague House

Henry Montague House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	814 Oakland Dr., Kalamazoo, Michigan
Coordinates	42°17′01″N 85°35′56″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1861
Architectural style	Greek Revival, Italianate
MPS	Kalamazoo MRA
NRHP reference No.	83000864
Added to NRHP	May 27, 1983

The Henry Montague House in Kalamazoo, Michigan was built in 1861. It includes Greek Revival and Italianate stylings. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

History

Henry Montague arrived in Kalamazoo in the 1830s from Massachusetts, and was closely involved with the abolitionist movement. He was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1854, and advocated that the state Insane Asylum be located in Kalamazoo. He was ultimately successful, and when the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital opened in 1859, Montague served as its first steward, a post he held until 1884. In 1861, Montague built this "simple but spacious brick home" on land he had purchased adjacent to the Asylum. During his time here, Montague entertained friends in the abolitionist movement, including Sojourner Truth. Montague lived in the house until his death In 1909. After that time, the house served as the residence of various state hospital officials.

Description

The Montague House is a two-story brick structure with a broad, symmetrical facade, including a projecting, veranda-fronted central section. It has square-head windows and a simply detailed transom-and-sidelight entrance, giving the house a Greek Revival look. However, the broadly projecting eaves of the house and hip roof show an Italianate influence. The house serves as the office for Western Michigan University's Association of American University Professors.