Albert Mann House, 1891

408 West Liberty Street

Albert Mann House, 1891

Built of brick instead of the more customary wood siding, this house has the usual Queen Anne characteristics: a very irregular and steep pitched roof, projecting bays on both sides of the house, and a fine turret with crenelated brickwork decorating the upper portion. The two-story porch to the left side appears to be original but has been renovated. Of interest, too, are the large oak double entrance doors and the "sunburst" design with which the carpenter decorated each of the two front gables. Note that they "burst" in opposite directions.

The area described as 'east by Allen Creek, south by Eber White Road (West Liberty Street), west by Lord's Estate, north by Territorial Road (West Huron Street),' was subdivided into residential lots in the late 1880s. John Koch, a builder, bought this lot and probably constructed the house which was purchased by Albert and Henry Mann in 1891. Albert's family occupied their castle-like house for more than forty years.

The Mann family has been a part of Ann Arbor from its early days. Albert's father, Emanuel, came to Michigan in 1830 at the age of 16. In 1842 he joined Christian Eberbach as a partner in a pharmacy and drug manufacturing company and later opened a drug store on Main Street. Albert and his brother Eugene eventually took over the store.

In 1958 the house was converted to a four-family dwelling. The present owner has added two dormer windows.