The Duncan Home

Local businessman James Duncan began the construction of this three-story home in 1903. Detailed in elegance, the home was designed by well-known Milwaukee architects Ferry and Clas, while local men Charles Gerlach had charge of the masonry and Gore Brownrigg the carpentry. As noted by the Manistee Daily News in October 1903 regarding the construction of the house: "The house will be different in some respects than any other residence in Manistee. The exterior wall of the first story will be brown paving brick like those used in the Ramsdell Theatre. "At the top of these comes a belt course projecting a few inches round and the second story will be of hollow building blocks plastered with cement." The Duncans moved into their new home the following year and continued to live at 516 Maple Street for the remainder of their lives.