PHOTOS: Port Huron’s Olde Town Neighborhood offers historic charm

Nestled in the Port Huron neighborhood bounded by Military to the east, Pine Street to the north, 10th Street to the west and Chestnut to the south, you’ll find the Olde Town historic district.

The historic neighborhood features homes that have evolved through the years while still maintaining the integrity of their

original features. When a neighborhood, site or home receives a historic designation, it is meant to preserve the area history. Usually, homes are more than 50 years old and have enough original integrity left to convey its sense of time and place. It means the property has significant importance in history and should keep the general appearance of the original site.

As the population of Port Huron grew quickly, the Olde Town neighborhood was created in the late 1830s, early 1840s. The area, also known as White’s plat, became home to influential people in Port Huron history, including several mayors, state representatives, doctors, lawyers and more, according to historical information on the neighborhood website, www.oldetownporthuron.com.

The thriving neighborhood began declining as the automobile became more popular and there was less dependence on the railways. It made it easier for people to move farther out of the city.

Carolyn Kunz Holley loves living in the Olde Town district and has watched it go through many stages over the last 50 years.

Holley moved into the historic district in the 1960s after buying the home from her family. In fact, her home was originally built in the 1800s by her grandfather, Robert Kunz.

Her family helped the neighborhood

renaissance with help from Acheson funding.

They restored the houses they could and tore down those that couldn’t be salvaged.

“This is a wonderful neighborhood to be in,” she says.

She says currently, the homes are full of people, and they all know each other.

Holley says it’s wonderful to see the area flourishing.

“It’s full of people who are all helping each other,” she says.

Want to know more about the historic district? Check out http://oldetownporthuron.com/