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George and Emma Wahr House, 1894

George and Emma Wahr House, 1894 image
Year
1894
Description

120 North Division Street

George and Emma Wahr House, 1894

This exuberant Queen Anne style house is one of several built and occupied by book dealer and stationer George Wahr. After purchasing the Wilson house at 126 North Division Street at a tax auction in 1892, Wahr built this house on the side lot in the current style of the day. Projecting gables, varying sized windows, an almost circular porch with spindle work at both the top and bottom, and a general asymmetrical organization of the various spaces are typical features of the Queen Anne style.

George Wahr was the son of pioneers from Germany who arrived in the area in 1835. He clerked at a local bookstore from the age of 14 and eventually bought that store with two other partners. Five years later, in 1887, he bought out his partners and became sole owner. Wahr specialized in student supplies, books, and stationery, but he also had a lucrative publishing business which printed tracts on various subjects. By 1892 he was successful enough to open a second store on State Street ???_ obviously to be closer to his main customers. It seems odd today that for over 40 years students had to shop on Main Street for supplies.

Wahr's ultimate accomplishment was building this house on North Division Street, a true symbol of success as this was then the most prosperous part of town. Today, Wahr's grandson, George Wahr Sallade, rents out its luxury apartments. Carefully tended, both the buildings and the grounds still exhibit the grandeur that once was North Division Street.

Rights Held By
Photos used to illustrate Historic Buildings, Ann Arbor, Michigan / by Marjorie Reade and Susan Wineberg.