Reuben Kempf House, 1889

321 North Ingalls Street

Reuben Kempf House, 1889

Although most people are familiar with Reuben Kempf's Greek Revival house on Division Street, few are aware that there was another Reuben Kempf in Ann Arbor. This Reuben Kempf was originally from Chelsea, Michigan, and made his fortune as a banker. He built this muscular Queen Anne style house in 1889 and a few years later it was featured as one of the premier local residences in the Ann Arbor Headlight of 1896.

The house is the epitome of what one would call "Victorian." Built of brick on a high foundation, it has the asymmetrical arrangement of space and the use of various materials so characteristic of the Queen Anne style. These contrasting materials have long been hidden by a uniform coat of grey paint, however. The octagonal tower features a combination weather vane/finial with a crown and banner motif, while the two-story porch facing Ingalls Street has very unusual detailing with double balustrades, turned porch posts, and lattice spindle work on the upper section. Original porches on Queen Anne houses are extremely rare in most towns, and these are truly unique survivors of Ann Arbor's architectural heritage.

In 1883, Reuben Kempf organized the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, at the southeast corner of Main and Huron Streets, serving as its President until his death around 1916. His widow occupied the house only a short while after-wards, selling it to fruit merchant Albert Basso in 1918. Following World War II, Edith Hagerman purchased the house for her husband, Dr. George Hagerman, to use as his office since St. Joseph Hospital was then conveniently across the street. Eventually the Hagerman's moved into the house. After the Doctor's death, Mrs. Hagerman remained there until the early 1990s. In 1992, the house was purchased by a long-time neighbor who is now in the process of remodelling the house for commercial and residential use.