Addison P. Mills was a native son of Ann Arbor, being the firstborn of early pioneers Lorrin Mills and Harriet Parsons in 1829. Harriet Parsons was the second person to teach school in Ann Arbor before a public system was set up in 1830. In the 1850s and 1860s, Addison Mills ran a dry goods store below his father’s tailoring shop and later went on to deal in sheep and wool with his uncle Nehemiah Parsons (see #45) and George Cropsey. Mills built this solid masonry Greek Revival-Italianate house between 1864 and 1866 at the southwest corner of Spring and Hiscock after Hiscock’s Addition was platted in 1859.

The house is somewhat quirky and original with its mix of Italianate-style segmented arches over the windows and Greek Revival details, including classical cornice returns, six-over-six windows, the triangular window in the attic, and a doorway with full transom and sidelight windows. Addison Mills may have built the house as an investment and lived here briefly. It is one of the original houses in the area and reflects the post-Civil War prosperity of Ann Arbor.

In December of 1866, the house was purchased by Henry and Catherine (Cook) Paul. Henry Paul grew up on a farm in Scio Township and moved to Ann Arbor in the 1860s because of ill health. Here he began to manufacture furniture under the name Paul and Bissinger. Later he was in the lime and marble business. The Pauls sold the house in the mid-1870s and bought a farm in Pittsfield Township. The current porch appears to have been built in the early 20th century and replaced an older one. From 1910–1930 it was occupied by the Bury family and from 1940–1960 it was occupied by the Starry family. It has been a rental for many years.

Former IHP

Return to Miller Road/Water Hill/Sunset neighborhood from Historic Ann Arbor: An Architectural Guide