The Armory Arts Village is a one-of-a-kind, creatively focused, mixed use neighborhood.  An affordable space designed to meet both the living & workspace needs of emerging artists, musicians, designers, craftsmen, and other creative people. Armory Arts Village is listed on MSN in the top ten most unique buildings worldwide in which to live. 

This was the original site of Michigan's first state prison, approved by the legislature in 1838. A temporary wooden prison, enclosed by a fence of tamarack poles, was built on sixty acres donated for that purpose here. In 1839 the first thirty-five prisoners were received. A permanent prison was built three years later. Beginning in the 1880's under Warden H. F. Hatch a greater emphasis was placed on the education and rehabilitation of prisoners. After 1934 the inmates were housed in the new prison north of Jackson.

Jackson's Historic Prison Tour now begins at Michigan Theatre. Click here to learn more.

The spirit has no limitations, so there is no limit to the types of creativity birthed and practiced at Art 634.  Music, dance, photography, painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery and theater are all celebrated within the walls of ART 634.  Art 634 is proud to call an 1850's manufacturing facility home.  It was originally built as a wagon and carriage factory, adjacent to the Michigan Territorial Prison.  The location afforded an abundance of workers and reasonable labor rates for factory. Over the years it has been used for warehousing, trucking operations. and numerous illicit and illegal activities.  It was spared from a 1950's fire that burned the building to the south on Mechanic, but the rear portion suffered damage.  Today it has been reborn as an industry of creativity.

The Art 634 logo incorporates the building's long history.  The circle of leaves represents the wagon wheel, fashioned out of leaves from the historical ginkgo tree directly to our east on Mechanic. Hence the name - Art 634, Center for the Creative Spirit.  The creative spirit has no limitations.

Special event every second Sunday of every month 12-4.  Art, music, wine, food and camaraderie – shop for all your gift needs for the coming month. Also don't miss the annual Fairy Festival in April which fills the building with magic and fun for the whole family.

Art 634 has two unique rooms available for rent:  

• ART 634 Classroom: Do you like to teach but lack the space and artistic atmosphere? Rent the ART 634 Classroom for $15 an hour and we’ll even help promote it. Text 517-745-3980.
• ART 634 Back Gallery Space: Offering a unique atmosphere for exhibits. Text 517-745-3980.

ART 634 Tenants

• BoKay Studios
• Circle of Stones
• Copper Orchid Design
• Cuppa
• Essa Arts
• Gallery 634 (Available to rent)
• Hair 634
• Hazelle M. Designs
• Jackson Arts and Cultural Alliance
• Jackson School of the Arts
• Maggie Drew Designs & Holey Altered
• Practical Guitar, Mike Crupi
• Regalitos
• Studio Deeply Art
• The Music Institute 
• The Old Prison Gift Shop
• Wendy Lebel Photography

Built for Bradley Demanter, president of People’s National Bank, the Demanter Home is now used by the AWARE Shelter, providing shelter and counseling services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The mission of AWARE strives to eliminate domestic and sexual violence, while promoting social change and empowering survivors by offering shelter and services. Note the second Flemish roof on the side.

Locally owned and operated by Greg & Annette Walker, they offer you a warm atmosphere, a delicious, distinctive menu and daily specials. Our extensive wine list will please the most discriminating palate. Our facility features private dining, intimate meeting rooms and banquet facilities for up to 250 guests. Live entertainment is available every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Bella Notte Ristorante specializes in fine dining, catering, take-out orders, wine sales and all types of business and/or personal banquets. Our four banquet rooms accommodate from 1 to 250 guests to meet all your special requirements. All our entrees are freshly made to order with the finest ingredients available. Menus change seasonally utilizing the best of seasonal ingredients.

The Commercial Italianate building on this site once housed the Oppenheim's clothing store, originally an outlet for furniture built by inmates at the Jackson Prison. In the 1950's Oppenheim's was rebuilt in the Moderne style popular at the time. Sav-a-lot drug store operated here for many years. Now Bella Notte Ristorante resides in this building with an impressive two story interior, popular horseshoe-shaped bar and delicious Italian cuisine.

On Sunday, August 15, 1926, the Jackson Citizen Patriot announced the opening of the the Reynolds Building, Jackson's tallest business structure. Its 14 stories overlook all other business blocks in Jackson's mercantile district, the dominating structure being the realization of an idea conceived by Wiley R. Reynolds, president of the W.R. Reynolds and Company, one of the city's leading real estate and insurance concerns.

On February 15, 1926 the actual construction work was started.  Albert Kahn, Inc. of Detroit were the architects.  Mr. Kahn has designed many famous Detroit buildings, including the GM Building, First National Bank Building, The David Whitney Building, and the Detroit Athletic Club, as well As Jackson buildings the Jackson County Tower Building, formerly Union and People's National Bank and the Old Consumers Power Building.

This structure occupies a ground space of 30 feet by 112 feet.  It rises into the air 14 stories, equivalent to 198 feet, 2 inches.  The building is of steel and reinforced concrete construction, thoroughly fire proof, complete with all the latest features of building construction and service of the time.

The only elevator in Jackson County with an elevator operator be sure to say hello to her while exploring the lobby and shopping at A Frame Above which occupies the ground floor. 

Formerly the Knights of Columbus building, this Beaux Arts Mediterranean building features many of architect Claire Allen’s favored details- tile roof, Italianate brackets and dentils, grand pillared entry, and balustrade porch.

Listed in the Michigan Historical registry, The First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn was originally 40 x 60 feet in size, the church was a simple Greek Revival building with a square belfry. In 1901 a gabled entranceway was added and the church raised up on high stone foundation. The church building is the second oldest in Jackson County and a highlight of the Greater Irish hills Historic Churches Driving Tour. Inside the church's Archives Alcove is a mini-museum in which the memories and artifacts of 170 years of service have been stored and displayed. 

Historic Brownhurst, a ""living"" octagon house, was constructed in 1852 by Col. John Anderson for William G and Lucinda Brown. It is one of the 48 remaining octagon houses in Michigan and was based on the plans of Orson Fowler, a Massachusetts architect from his book ""The Octagon House, a home for all"". Once a 2000 acre working orchard, now a 15 acre parcel dedicated to breeding Morgan Horses, owned by William G and Lucinda Brown . This is a private residence please be respectful. 

In 1901 Andrew Carnegie donated $70,000 for the construction of a library building in the city of Jackson. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the State of Michigan Register of Historic Sites, this Neo-Classical style building was designed and built in 1906. The facility features inlaid terrazzo floors, intricate ceiling moldings, Carrara white marble staircase and numerous pieces of art. The Carnegie building became the main branch for the newly created district in 1978. In 1981, with a bequest from Mrs. Mable MinterVan Orman, a circular structure was built at the rear of the library. This added an elevator, history room, back lobby and a children's storytelling room. There are 13 library locations in Jackson County. In addition to the library services and collections, the library has numerous programs offered at all of the branches throughout the year. These programs cover a wide range of interests and ages. Most programs and services are provided by the library free of charge. The building is graced with an outdoor public sculpture a parent and child reading and was created by famed sculptor Freeman Schoolcraft, Jackson High School graduate.

The Child, The Parent, and The Book, by Freeman L. Schoolcraft, bronze and limestone, 1988, Jackson District Library/Carnegie Branch, Michigan Ave.

Freeman Schoolcraft's The Child, The Parent, and The Book sits beside the main entrance to the Jackson District Library welcoming patrons while celebrating the right to read and symbolizing the value of parents and children learning and growing together.

Schoolcraft's life-size bronze statuary exhibits smooth surfaces and a light green finish over a darker undercoat, giving the sculpture and its pedestal an antique appearance despite its young age. Whereas Hunt's Victory Reconstructed is abstract and only suggestive of a figure in motion, Schoolcraft's woman and child are realistic, although not as detailed as the figures of Frishmuth, Hibbard, or Taft's Defense of the Flag. In fact, the figurative forms are simplified and generalized rather like the figure on the Foote Memorial by Taft, Schoolcraft's teacher.

When Taft attended the dedication of the Foote Memorial he met Schoolcraft, who was to graduate from Jackson High School the following year. The young artist showed the renowned sculptor some of his work and was invited to apprentice with the master in Chicago. He himself then taught at the Art Institute of Chicago, the University of Chicago, and Northwestern University. His sculpture adorns numerous buildings in and around Chicago and is in the collections of the Art Institute and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

Even though a heart attack in 1964 effectively ended his career in sculpture, David Leamon, director of the Jackson District Library, wrote to Schoolcraft in 1982 to see if he would make a sculpture for his hometown library. The sculptor undertook the project enthusiastically and completed a small clay model, shortly before his death in 1988. Schoolcraft's widow, Clara made a more permanent plaster cast from the clay model about a year later. A grassroots fundraising effort to raise the $60,000 needed to create the full bronze statue along with grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and the Michigan Sesquicentennial Commission was completed.

In late October 1987, the full sized bronze statue was created at the Pappas Art Foundry in Ypsilanti Michigan.  The production process was not unlike that employed to model, mold, and cast the older bronze sculptures in Jackson. The "lost wax" bronze casting technique used by the ancient Greeks is essentially the same today as it was two and a half millennia ago, though technical innovations have improved the furnaces and materials used in the process.

We offer a delicious selection on our extensive Sunday Brunch Buffet. Reservations are accepted, but not required. Our private VIP Room may be reserved for your party of 15-32. Treat your family to a special afternoon!

We specializing in Showers, Corporate Meetings, On-site Weddings and  Wedding Receptions, Service Clubs, Memorials, Special Events and Fabulous Sunday Brunch. Nestled in beautiful Cascades Falls Park of Jackson, Michigan, you'll find the elegant Cascades Manor House.  The perfect setting for your next occasion, The Cascades Manor house will impress your guests with stunning surroundings, impeccable service and delicious cuisine. We cordially invite you to relax and enjoy the charming atmosphere of the Cascades Manor House while our experienced, professional staff plan and coordinate your special event. Our scenic grounds and unique bridges create the perfect setting for any occasion. Your guests will enjoy a large dance floor, ample parking and our smoke free environment.  The Cascades Manor House has a long-term agreement with Jackson County Parks.  We are a nonprofit facility and our proceeds are directed to local parks improvement. We have seating for up to 300 and three private rooms to choose from.   We offer a full bar and equipment rentals to complete your event. Corporate events, showers, wedding receptions, memorial luncheons, retirement parties, your event will shine at Jackson's Original "Community Gathering Place." Call today to schedule your next event.  517-784-1500.

Casler's Hardware occupies four discreet buildings. The oldest, a simple, two-story, Greek Revival building at the rear, is Jackson's oldest stone building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was built in 1839 as the Post Office, General Store and Newspaper. It then faced onto the original town square, now Bucky Harris Park, where the stagecoach would stop regularly. 

The Stone Post Office built with locally quarried sandstone, is also one of the oldest commercial structures in all of Michigan. Built for local merchant Joseph G.R. Blackwell, it was once a center of local life and one of the first permanent buildings in the town then called Jacksonburgh.  

Casler Hardware Inc. has been in business since 1939, offering hardware supplies for commercial companies, as well as large or small household repairs and projects.

Celebrate your wedding or special occasion in the romantic Wedding Chapel in our historic Victorian church just outside Jackson, MI. (Formerly Billingsgate restaurant)  Event Center for intimate gatherings accommodating up to 50 guests. Kitchen facilities available for catered food or pot luck and alcohol is allowed.  Officiant on-site who will work with you to create the perfect ceremony. Elope with an hour's notice-just bring the license.  Weddings, receptions, showers, birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, seminars, Holiday parties.  Come make your memories with us!

Coe House was constructed in 1871 for Henry Van Winkle, who owned and operated a hardware store and farm equipment "dealership" in Grass Lake. In 1953 Archie and Myrta Coe bought the home, and it was from Mrs. Coe, by then a widow, that the Grass Lake Area Historical Society bought the house in 1972. The architecture of the home is Tuscan Vernacular. It has been furnished to represent a typical home of the Victorian Era. A variety of events are scheduled throughout the year, including flea markets, craft shows, music and a heritage celebration.

Added to the National Historic Places Registry in 1993, the Commercial Exchange Building/ Collins Manufacturing/ Jackson Automobile Company Complex consists of two segments (Buildings A and B) arranged into a roughly square-shaped complex connected to a third rectangular segment (Building C) by a one-story power house and loading dock structure erected at the same time as Building A in 1895. A fourth, smaller, rectangular building (Building D) is situated adjacent and parallel to Building C. Building A, the original structure on the site, is a three-story, U-shaped, red brick building featuring a six-story corner tower containing the main entrance. The building contains the original main offices, several of which were remodeled in the 1930s and display both Colonial/Georgian and Art Deco motifs, fireplaces, molded wood paneling, and period wall sconces. 

The Collins Manufacturing Co. built the structure at 2301 E. Michigan Ave. and was a major producer of horse carts in the late 1890s. The building has since housed many early, innovative automobile companies, a World War I munitions factory, a Cardon Manufacturing plant. It was acquired by William Sparks in 1928 for the Sparks-Withington Co. The building is now owned by and known as the Commercial Exchange Building. 

Photo Courtesy of the Jackson District Library Archives. 

Now part of the new Consumers Energy campus, this former post office was designed by Jackson architect Claire Allen at the height of his powers. Built in 1932, this beautifully designed and sumptuously detailed United States Post Office was built with the finest materials - limestone, marble, terra cotta, and metal - crafted by experts employed by the WPA.  

In 1998 the post office moved and the next year Consumers Energy started a project that entailed restoring this building and attaching a twelve-story office building in back.  This unusually curved beaux arts former post office was incorporated as the focal point of the new Consumers Energy campus.The original post office lobby is now the entrance, the wood-paneled post master’s office is the welcoming center, while the mail sorting area has been converted into an extremely handsome employee lounge and lunch room with a grand staircase. Note how the parking structures on either side are carefully designed to go with the main building.
Photo courtesy of the Jackson District Library Archives.

The gallery features art images from a rarely seen perspective; during his 47-year-career Dale has worked exclusively from a helicopter. His powerful, breathtaking pieces are not only framed as fine art but are also used for advertisements, brochures, public relations, and many other forms. Dale Fisher has been perfecting his art of taking images from a helicopter for over 53 years. He has an extensive inventory of art from the states of Michigan, Hawaii, Arizona and New York and includes wildlife, nautical, landscape images for all four seasons. A brief display of Dale's art may be found on his website at www.dalefishephoto.com.

Although the main function of the Dale Fisher Galleries is an art, photography and framing center, it doubles as a convention and reception hall that can accommodate up to 250 people. The convention center has dramatic lighting, catering kitchen, restrooms, heat and air conditioning. It is situated on the 100-acre Eyry of the Eagle Campus which house three art galleries, state of the art photography lab, framing center and animal viewing zoo. It is also home to the Michigan Center for the Photographic Arts, a non-profit 501(3)(c) organization that's main focus is to unleash the creative spirit in children through the art of photography. Each year the Children's Mentorship Program features the photographic art of the students during the annual Fall Focus Festival, which takes place the 3rd weekend in September at the center. 

Meeting Facility: http://www.eyryoftheeagle.com/

The Eyry of the Eagle Farm is a special place for special occasions. Enjoy the peaceful wooded areas, fields and 3-acre pond. A beautiful site for wedding receptions and company meetings, the Eyry of the Eagle Farm has a modern reception hall, wedding pergola, catering kitchens, and a charming 125-year old restored barn. Located in Grass Lake, Michigan just west of Ann Arbor.

The reception center is perfect for:

• Weddings
• Business meetings
• Company picnics
• Family picnics
• Class reunions

Amenities include:

• Wings Gallery Reception Hall, over 5000 square feet with 40'x64' meeting/dining room,
• air conditioning
• warming kitchen
• entry room
• bride's changing room
• 125-year-old barn, the Eagle's Nest Gallery
• large pond
• wedding ceremony pergola with brick walkway
• many flower gardens
• wooded areas
• ball field
• decorated with the photographic art of Dale Fisher

Contact the Eyry of the Eagle Farm to learn more about the availability of the reception facilities for your next event!

For over 80 years, a small piece of ancient Egypt has been nestled at a historic location on 160 W. Michigan Ave. in downtown Jackson, Michigan. Inspired by King Tut's tomb itself, the building which houses DuPuis et Fils Jewelers has charmed visitors and customers for years. DuPuis et Fils Jewelers, owned and operated by the DuPuis family since 1974, has actually been providing Jackson and the surrounding areas with one-of-a-kind jewelry, service and charm since 1903. It was originally known then as Bugg's Jewelers, named as such by its founders, William and Maude Bugg. Bugg Jewelers built this limestone neo-Egyptian charmer around 1927. The remaining lower level of an adjacent building was later incorporated. With a neo-Egyptian granite and limestone façade on the storefront, Bavarian plaster-cast ceiling, cherry wood displays and unique scarab sculptures (designed after stylized Egyptian beetle artifacts), the new jewelry store truly became a gem to Jackson's downtown landscape. A sale of ownership, a subsequent name and a new employee-a clerk named Paul DuPuis-all came in 1947. The store, then called Roy Groom & Sons, continued to operate under new ownership while providing the same charm and quality service for decades until 1974. It was then that Paul DuPuis bought the store, renamed the store to DuPuis et Fils and kept it family-owned to this day. Notice the Egyptian scarab "bug" above the second floor, then step inside to admire the beautiful interior and ornate vaulted ceiling. Continuously operating as a jewelry store,since it first opened it has now been passed down to the second generation Dupuis. 

In 1912, Ella Sharp’s farm and home were willed to Jackson for the creation of a park and museum, which opened in 1965. The Ella Sharp Museum features an 1860’s log cabin, the Dibble one-room schoolhouse, country store, print shop, doctor’s office, woodshop and the Merriman Sharp Farmhouse.  The Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History also houses six galleries including the Andrews Gallery of Wildlife Art, the Jackson History Gallery, a clock gallery and three galleries featuring traveling and “in house” exhibitions. Thousands of visitors are drawn each year for the Ella’s major festivals Sugaring & Shearing (spring), Art, Beer & Wine Festival (summer) and Fall Harvest Festival (fall).

Admission to the galleries is free every Saturday.

The Grand Community Room at the Ella Sharp Museum of Art & History is the perfect place for your next grand event. The 3,000-square-foot room features an outdoor patio, catering kitchen, and stage to accommodate a wide variety of uses. A huge, arched window looks out onto the surrounding park and a mid-19th century log house.
   

• Reunions
• Holiday parties
• Weddings
• Seminars
• Annual meetings
• Award ceremonies
• Galas
• Graduation parties
• Rehearsals
• Staff meetings
• Luncheons and banquets
• Dramatic presentations

This was the first Baptist church established in Jackson. In 1834, thirteen Jackson pioneers established the Barry-Jackson Baptist Church in Sandstone Township. Five years later the Reverend David Hendee and seventeen members of that church formed the First Baptist Church in Jackson. Meetings were held in several locations until 1868, when construction began on the present church. J. R. Lewis provided the plans and specifications for this Romanesque Revival-style structure. When a lack of funds resulted in repeated construction delays, "Uncle Ben" Mosher, a member of the building committee, agreed to erect the walls free if the materials were supplied. A donation from four church members in 1871 assured the structure's completion. The church was eventually dedicated on March 10, 1872.

Founded in 1839, First Baptist Church has been a vital presence of God’s hope and grace in downtown Jackson for more than 170 years. From the corner of South Jackson and Cortland Streets, the congregation continues to live this legacy through mission and outreach to the community. With about 190 members First Baptist is a place to be known by God and friends. 

Photos coutesy of First Baptist Church of Jackson.

This pre-Civil War building has a fascinating history that includes a well-documented story about adding a basement AFTER the structure had been in operation for several years. This monumental Romanesque Revival church was erected in 1859 according to plans by architect Horatio N. White of Syracuse, New York. It is this congregation's third church. In 1871 the building was raised eight feet to accommodate lower-level classrooms. In September 1861, on the eve of departing for duty in the Civil War, the "Jackson Blair Cadets" and the Jackson County Rifles gathered with their families in the crowded sanctuary. At Detroit's Fort Wayne the troops joined the Eighth and Ninth Michigan infantries respectively. Beginning in the 1840s with the antislavery movement, the congregation actively participated in social reform--most notably the temperance and civil rights crusades.

Photo Courtesy of Jackson District Library Archives.

The Lee Conklin Antique Reed Organ & History Museum proudly displays over 100 fully restored and working antique reed organs. Visitors to the museum are often treated to the beautiful sounds of these antique instruments, as they are in playable condition. The collection includes parlor, cottage and church organs along with elegant rosewood melodeons, some dating as far back as the mid-1800’s. The historical collection includes a turn of the century classroom, barber shop, library, printing press and telephone switchboard. The museum building itself, once Hanover High School, was designated a Michigan Historical Site in 2000 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. The museum is owned and operated by the Hanover-Horton Area Historical Society. Special events include Rust N' Dust Days, Fourth of July Tractor Pulls and October Corn Mazes. 

The Heritage Park Event Center hosts monthly concerts called Bluegrass Bonanza and is also great place to hold your next gathering. Whether you are expecting a small crowd or a full house the event center can accommodate your needs. There are two rooms available. The small meeting room features a classroom style space that holds 44 people maximum and includes the use of the kitchen. The large meeting space is also available for rent and also includes the use of the kitchen. If you are interested in renting either room, please contact the Hanover-Horton Area Historical Society office at 517-563-8927.

Group tours are welcome.  The buildings and restrooms are handicapped accessible except for the 2nd floor of the museum. Please allow 1.5 hours for the tour. Please visit their website for more information on group tours.

Named in honor of industrialist Clarence Hayes, this currently vacant building was once a top-level hotel with a fancy restaurant and ballroom. Development plans have been put on hold.
Photo Courtesy of Jackson District Library Archives.

Built in late 1860's in the Commercial Italianate style prevalent during that period. It has housed boarding rooms, a bar, livery stables, a freezer unit manufacturer, storage for Jackson Cracker Company, a commercial sign manufacturer, a hardware and appliance shop, B.F. Goodrich, and A & J Tire. In 1988, the building was purchased and developed into the current Jackson Antique Mall. It is the largest antique mall in Jackson with over 3 floors of treasures in downtown Jackson.

Jackson's Best Coffee Shop of 2012

The Jackson Coffee Co is Jackson's only gourmet coffee roaster, which means that we produce the freshest cup of coffee possible.  It is why we have been voted "Best Coffee" for the past five years.  All coffee is roasted at our downtown location.  This location features a 3500 sf, 1871 building in the heart of Jackson's business district and is filled with old-world charm, modern amenities, and a Hip, jazz-inspired upstairs. It's worth stopping by just to check out the brass ceiling.   Live music is offered free of charge from 7 PM to 10 PM every Friday night. This store carries the widest selection of regular and sugar-free flavors in 4 counties and has something for everyone, even the non-coffee drinker. Visit our website at www.jacksoncoffeeco.com to see pictures of our store, who's playing this Friday, and for directions. 

This classic commercial Italianate building was constructed in early 1870's by entrepreneur N.G. Davis. It has housed a grocery, oil company, flour and feed store, engraving company, dentist, corset company, shoe store, awning company, investment company, paint and wallpaper store, cabinet company, Democratic party headquarters, and now beautifully renovated to become the Jackson Coffee Company.

Photo Courtesy of Ernst Design, LLC.

The Jackson County Courthouse, located at Jackson and Wesley Streets, was constructed in 1927-28 as the Elk's Temple.  It was a very elaborate lodge and a center of recreational activity for several years.  The Jackson Elks spared no expense when building their new headquarters which included a swimming pool, auditorium, Spanish-decor restaurant and cafeteria, rooms for visiting Elks, handball courts, bowling alley, Turkish bath, barber shop and beauty parlor, and eight shops.  When the Depression hit a few years later, they couldn’t make the payments, so they returned to their former hall at 310 Mechanic.   In 1935, it was purchased by the county from the bond holders for a total of $27,000, which included $17,500 in delinquent taxes. It was remodeled for cost of $360,000, and occupied by the county in the spring of 1937.  Since then, it has served as the seat of government for the County of Jackson.

Designed by prominent Detroit Architect, Albert Kahn and completed in 1929 after the merger of Union Bank and Peoples National Bank. The 17-story Tower Building, was at that time referred to as the "Golden Towers." In 1933 the National Bank of Jackson was organized as the successor to the Union and Peoples National Bank.  Operations continued in the original building, though the National Bank never took ownership. In 1958, the National Bank vacated and for several years Consumers Power Company leased space.

In 1975 it was sold to the County for a nominal sum by the Raymond Kolowich family and became the County Tower Building.  The County Commissioners' Chamber is located on the 2nd floor up the marble flight of stairs.  Italian leaded stained glass windows surround the chamber which was originally the main banking area. A long awaited restoration of the this lobby was finished in July of 2011.  This former bank lobby has been restired to its former glory with repairs made to the stained glass windows, vaulted plaster ceiling and wood paneling that surrounds the 7,200-square-foot room. Three-tiered chandeliers and a marble balustrade were also installed. It is now an acessible to the public customer service area housing the county treasurer, register of deeds and equalization department.

This ""castle-topped"" structure is on of Jackson's most treasured buildings and continues to reign as downtown's tallest landmark.

Another unique feature of this building is not historical in nature but biological. A pair of peregrine falcons have chosen to nest and breed atop this iconic building, a first in Jackson County.  The happy couple who usually mate for life can be seen in season on their webcam http://www.co.jackson.mi.us/tower_falcons.asp

The building was once a Woolworth's Five and Dime store. In 1991 Jackson County purchased the Woolworth Building located at 165 W. Michigan Avenue for $90,000. The building is currently vacant.

Built circa 1912 for the offices and showrooms of the Jackson Gas Company where gas-powered lighting equipment and appliances were sold. After housing a commercial printer into the 1990's, the interior was painstakingly renovated. This lovely space provided a wonderful atmosphere for the most recent tenant, the Nomad Bookstore, a locally owned independant bookstore and cafe. The building is currently vacant. 

JACKSON – LARGEST WALLED STATE PRISONS IN THE WORLD

Begin the tour in downtown Jackson at the Michigan Theatre with a brief tour of this historic site. Then, with surround sound and an HD screen, see and hear the fascinating history of Michigan’s First State Prison (1839-1934). Mixing film with live presentations by tour guides, you’ll experience intriguing tales of prison life, colorful inmates, wardens, night-keepers, punishments, and reforms. You will see solitary cells and underground tunnels as the old prison come to life. Journey into the present to what the former prison has become – Armory Arts Village. On screen, visit an artist in his studio, once a cellblock and see an apartment carved out of two floors of 36 cells.

Next: Board the bus to 7-Block (1934-2007), a fully intact, closed cellblock at the Jackson State Correctional Facilities. Here, Robert DeNiro filmed the movie “Stone.” Experience the “cage,” or holding area. Then walk down the ramp that took prisoners from the real world to the one behind bars. Eat a catered lunch at tables where thousands of inmates have downed their prison chow. Step inside a cell. Walk the five tiers of galleries. Go onto the prison yard. Hear of famous/infamous convicts, officers, riots, reforms, and a one-and-only helicopter escape.

After “doing time,” board the bus to ART 634 on the site of the First State Prison. Once the famous Jackson Wagon Company, where inmates provided cheap labor, today ART 634 hosts The Old Prison Gift Shop and Gallery. Browse and buy souvenirs here, featuring art from the Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP). This original art work is created by artists in Michigan correctional facilities, juvenile facilities, urban high schools, and communities across the state. Also, visit other delightful shops and CUPPA, a cozy coffee café.

SO, DO TIME IN JACKSON! -- AN EXPERIENCE YOU’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER!

Seen on Film at the Historic Michigan Theatre
Experienced with Tour Guides on Live Prison Grounds
Tales of Famous/Infamous Inmates
Stories of Crime, Punishment & Reform
A Catered Lunch Served in 7-Block
Browse & Shop at the Old Prison Gift Shop & Gallery

RESERVATIONS NECESSARY
517-795-2112

www.historicprisontours.com

Tour Begins at 124 N. Mechanic Street, Jackson, MI 49201
3.5 miles south of I-94 (Cooper Street Exit 139)

Studios for local station JTV are housed in what had been the Grinnell music store. The building façade dates from around 1900, but as was common at the time much of the building's walls likely belonged to an earlier structure. 

JTV Studios is a full service video production, web design and marketing services firm serving clients from our offices and studios in Jackson, Michigan. JTV Studios provides corporate video, multimedia presentation, flash animation and web production services. Our aim is to help you, our corporate client, to communicate more effectively, more impressively. This is our strength. We produce much more than just a corporate DVD, graphic sales presentation, training video or a few high quality web pages for your company. We organize your information, supplying the marketing tools and business intelligence you need to make your next production an outright winner. Working together, we help you discover powerful new ways to communicate to your audience, making them more aware of you, influencing them, and motivating them to change.

In operation since 1873, Jackson’s train depot was reputed to be the largest stop on the line between Detroit and Chicago. The Victorian-Italianate red-brick station used heart pine, ash, oak and walnut woods harvested in Michigan for its interior structures. A carved walnut arch separated the ticket office from the newsstand and women’s waiting room and crystal chandeliers hung overhead. Building open Monday - Friday 7:30 am-3 pm. Free. Historical photo coutesy of the Jackson District Library Archives. 

The Michigan Theatre was the last and largest theater to be built in downtown Jackson, opening in 1930. Now a nonprofit organization, the Michigan Theatre of Jackson Inc., is working to restore the theater to its original luster. It was originally built in Spanish Renaissance style with an ornate polychrome terra cotta façade, carved walnut furniture, plush carpeting, heavy damask draperies, and stained-glass light fixtures. The Michigan Theatre is considered one of the most splendid theaters in the state. Their mission is to provide today's entertainment in an incredible historic venue. Events include kids movies and classic films, as well as live entertainment.

Formerly known as Horace Ismon Building, this building was erected for Jackson dry goods merchant Horace Ismon in 1853. Ismon had begun his mercantile career in Paw Paw during the 1840s. Ismon was a founding director of the Jackson County Bank in 1872. Having no children of their own, Ismon and his wife, Clara, mentored youth interested in the mercantile trade.  A lavish gala attended by three hundred guests and future governor Austin Blair celebrated the opening of the Ismon Building on February 22, 1853. The building has housed a variety of enterprises, among them Horace Ismon's dry goods store, a pharmacy, and a home health service. From 1927 to 1972, the Fairy Garden Chinese restaurant occupied the upper floors. It is believed to have been the first Jackson establishment with air conditioning (installed in 1933). Current tenants include Edward Jones.

Founded in 1843, Mt. Evergreen is the City of Jackson’s oldest cemetery. Originally consisting of 11 acres in 1843 and expanded to its now 25 acres in 1863. Morrell Street was moved north a year later to produce an area dedicated for the burial of soldiers. To this day, the annual Memorial Day parade ends at Mt. Evergreen’s Soldier Field.
The Greenwood Wall was built in 1873, and was rebuilt more than a century later in 1980, using all original stones. The outside fence that surrounds the cemetery was a generous donation of the Reynolds family, who also completed the installation. All interment records, prior to 1917, were destroyed by a massive fire. Any records of those years were recreated from headstones.
Mt. Evergreen Cemetery was listed in the State Register of Historic Sites in 1988. The cemetery contains not one but two famous sculptures memorializing the dead.

Laura Evans Memorial also known as Civil War Soldiers Monument, by Frederick Hibbard, bronze and granite, 1916

Jackson holds the honor of mustering the first volunteer regiment of Civil War soldiers in the state, and lost over 3,200 men. Thus it is appropriate, that a town the size of Jackson should have a second Civil War memorial, after Defense of the Flag, located amid the graves of those who made the supreme sacrifice. A half-century after the war, Laura Evans established a trust in her will to fund a monument to the soldiers buried in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in memory of her father, mother, and husband.
Frederick C. Hibbard, a Chicago sculptor who studied under Lorado Taft (sculptor of Defense of the Flag and the William A. Foote Memorial), created the memorial inscribed with its patron's name. As with Taft's Defense, Hibbard presents us with a three-figure composition, but two of Hibbard's figures are in relief and the other, a soldier is three dimensional. The soldier holds his rifle by his side and vigilantly peers into the distance. Behind him a male and a female figure are depicted in bas relief. The man holds his hat over his heart and bows his head. The woman is beautiful and full-bodied, with long, flowing hair and a classical gown.
Might these be portraits of Laura Evans' mother and father? If so, does the soldier depict Evans' young husband? Documentation has not been found, but the explanation is possible. For now it is enough to recognize the powerful emotions conveyed by the faces of the older man and woman as the young warrior strides bravely off to do his duty, unknown to all whether he will live or die.

Sparks Memorial also known as Roses of Yesterday, by Harriet Frishmuth, bronze and granite, copyright 1923

Mt. Evergreen Cemetery can point with pride to the Sparks Memorial, a commemorative bronze female figure, smaller scale than Taft’s Foote Memorial, but just as poignant and emotional. The statue marks the graves of several members of the Sparks family -- a prominent local family that left its mark on the community most noticeably through the donation of Cascades Park, originally known as Sparks Foundation County Park.
The demure young woman smells a bouquet of roses she holds. Illustrations of the original model show the woman once held a sundial in her left hand, which is now missing. Thus the sculpture reminds to stop and smell the roses as our time on earth is short. This is further demonstrated by the title given to the sculpture by the artist, Roses of Yesterday. A bronze casts of this sculpture can be found in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
Harriet Frishmuth (1880-1980) created dozens of delicate maidens similar to that on the Sparks Memorial during her long and productive career for which she earned numerous awards in the first two decades of the 20th century.

For more information on the public sculpture of Jackson visit the Ella Sharp Museum at http://www.ellasharp.org/our-outdoor-sculpture.html.

Casler's Hardware occupies four discreet buildings. The oldest, a simple, two-story, Greek Revival building at the rear, is Jackson's oldest stone building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was built in 1839 as the Post Office, General Store and Newspaper. It then faced onto the original town square, now Bucky Harris Park, where the stagecoach would stop regularly.
The Old Stone Post Office built with locally quarried sandstone, is also one of the oldest commercial structures in all of Michigan. Built for local merchant Joseph G.R. Blackwell, it was once a center of local life and one of the first permanent buildings in the town then called Jacksonburgh.

Daryl's Downtown is now One Five One. We're excited to be a part of Jackson's downtown, and we can't wait to make our impression.

Come to our grand opening on February 22nd and get a free small plate with the purchase of two entreés. Our new menu will have an artistic, culinary flair akin to a four-star, urban restaurant.

Welcome to Pedal & Tour Cycling and Fitness, Jackson's premier destination for  bikes & exercise equipment. We carry a complete line of bicycles from Giant and Raleigh, so whether you're looking to ride to the ice cream stand, or to the top of the Alps, we've got you covered. We do more than bikes. Pedal and Tour is also Jackson County's largest source of exercise equipment. Precor, Vision, and Tuff Stuff; they're the best brands in fitness and we've got them all. We also offer FREE DELIVERY & SET UP! Ask an associate for details. We're conveniently located in downtown Jackson in the historic C.E. Hamlin building. We always have new products coming in; shop for accessories for your bike or your fitness equipment. Bike need a tune-up? We have a full-service repair area to take care of all your maintenance needs. Whatever you need, we've got you covered.  Stop in and see us today.

This archetypical Commercial italianate building was built as either a wagon-makers or a feed store, in the boom years following the American Civil War, circa 1880. For many years it served as the home of C.E. Hamlin Auto Supply. The building was purchased and renovated by George Webster to relcoate his business,  Pedal & Tour, downtown and remodel the upper floors into residential units. 

St. Demetrius Church, purchased for $1.00 in 1960, was originally built as a one-room schoolhouse.  Today the structure is something altogether different.  Still set in a rural area resonating with the peace of nature, the colorful interior of St. Demetrius contrasts with the more pastoral colors of its surroundings. The interior walls and ceilings are covered with brightly colored paintings called frescos. In addition, individual Icons are held in place by a 33-foot long hand carved wooden wall of icons called a “Iconostasis.”

On this engaging tour, you experience how our world-renown Iconographer, Niculai Enochi, uses an authentic Byzantine method of painting to adorn our exquisite church – a church equal to any you can see in Europe – and it is right here in Jackson!  The Orthodox tradition of Iconography, often called “Windows to Heaven,” originated about 1800 years ago. This Iconography, through its vivid visual depictions, truly brings the stories of the Bible to life.

The artistic, historical and personalized tour is given by Father Dusan, a delightful master of presentation.  

After experiencing the beautiful Icons and their intriguing history, you will thoroughly enjoy sitting in our beautiful dining area as you drink a cup of coffee with the very special treat of our famous, unforgettably delicious homemade Baklava baked by the Baklava Bakers of the Sisterhood of St. Demetrius Church.

Personal tours require 10 or more people and are $12.00 a person.

For more information please call Monica Dellas (517-414-3829) & (517-569-2982) or the Church (517-784-0116).

St. John's, the oldest Catholic Church is Jackson, was constructed in 1857 as a Gothic brick building. St. John's is the oldest Catholic Church in Jackson and was the only church of this denomination in the city until 1901. 

Photo Courtesy of Jackson District Library Archives.

In 1880, Bishop Casper Henry Borgess of the Detroit Diocese, approved the establishment of a second Catholic parish in the city of Jackson. On June 14, 1881, Robert Lake was contracted to build a new church.  It was to be a Gothic style brick building with the steeple rising 180 feet.  The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1881.  The building would seat six hundred people and the cost was just over $30,000.  Within 20 years, the first church had become inadequate in size.  Admission cards were issued to parishioners for Mass attendance.

In 1910, plans were announced for a new church, and the pastor and church trustees traveled to Europe, viewing some of the most beautiful cathedrals.  Building plans were delayed by World War I, but finally on Sunday, September 23, 1923, the cornerstone was laid.  The basement was ready and used for Midnight Mass on Christmas, 1923.  However, a prolonged strike in the limestone industry delayed progress and it was not completed until 1926.  On May 31, 1926, Bishop Joseph C. Plagens officiated at the dedication.  The cost of the new church was approximately $375,000. 

Frederick Spier of Detroit designed the Romanesque structure.  It is constructed of steel framework with an exterior limestone veneer, and is a combination of Byzantine and traditional Romanesque architecture.  The front of the church originally featured two lighthouses where wrought iron lamps reside today. The steeple does indeed rise 180 feet.  The southwest corner houses the 2,700 pound bell, cast in 1902 for the parish's original church.  All three towers are capped with copper sheeting, which is curved to meet at the top with a wood post that supports a 6' x 3' x 6' gold-leafed metal clad cross. The front features three sets of double doors of copper and bronze.  Over the entrance is a figure of Mary and the words "Domus Mea Domus Orationis Est" which translated from the Latin is  "My House is a House of Prayer" (Isaiah 56:7).

All of the stained glass windows, "Stations of the Cross", and mosaic "Our Lady Star of the Sea" were purchased after WWI from Tyrolese Art Glass Company in Innsbruck, Austria for $22,000.  The windows are said to be the finest in the country. They are listed in the Michigan Stained Glass Census with special emphasis on the "Christ and the Battlefield Window". In 1961, all of the stained glass was appraised for $150,000;  today they would be considered priceless.   Mary; Joseph; St. Anne with Mary; Divine Mercy; St. Therese; St. Roch; Pius X; the communion rail and back altar are all Italian carrera marble.  The altars and communion rails were a donation by George Washington Hill (1884-1946).  Mr. Hill was the president of the American Tobacco Company at the time and the red and green colors of the mosaic work on the main altar corresponds to the original colors on a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes.  

Photo Courtesy of Jackson Distrcit Library Archives.

On December 8, 1838, the founders of St. Paul's Parish met and began the task of drafting the Articles of Organization for a ""new Protestant society."" The Parish of St. Paul's Church was officially established with the signing by twenty-two persons of the articles of Organization on January 12, 1839.
Its first house of worship, a small frame church completed at a cost of $2,500 by vestry member Lemuel S. House, was consecrated on October 20, 1840. By 1850 the group had outgrown its original home, and plans were begun to build a larger church.
Designed by Buffalo architect Calvin N. Otis, the new Romanesque Revival church was consecrated on January 11, 1853. Remodeled and expanded several times, it is one of the oldest Episcopal church structures in southern Michigan.

Photo Courtesy of Jackson District Library Archives

Designed for industrialist Clarence Hayes, co-owner of Kelsey Hayes, by Jackson Architect Claire Allen, this house is French Chateaux style built in limestone with a slate roof.

Our Downtown Jackson Outlet Store features more than 2,000 square feet of Antiques, Candles, and Collectibles. This outlet is located in a beautiful historic building that was one of the original Michigan homes of Kresge's Five-and-Dime stores in the early 1900s. This restored building is over 5,000 square feet and features exposed brick and vaulted ceilings surrounded by a large selection of American Soybean Wax candles, home decor items, collectibles and antiques.

A Jewish Reform Synogogue formed in 1862. The building contains 5 pictoral stained glass windows titled Peace, Justice, Good Deeds and The Torah.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 1-acre burial plot contains over 270 burials representing four or five generations of Jackson families. The cemetery was dedicated in 1859 and is still accepting burials making it Michigan’s oldest Jewish Cemetery in continuous use.  Jews arrived in Jackson in 1842, but did not construct a synagogue until the early 1860s. The synagogue, Temple Beth Israel, now sits at 801 W. Michigan Ave. Jackson.

Named for the Ionia sandstone used in its construction, this series of townhouses was built over a twelve year period for specific owners.  Claire Allen's clever mix of Flemish and Tudor architecture works for the building.  The indented backyards allow more light into the units.  Claire Allen, famed Jackson architect himself lived in 515 after his wife died and stayed there the rest of his life. He died in 1942 at age 89.

The Mann House is an excellent example of typical middle-class domestic architecture of the early 1880s. Built in 1883, the Mann House is now a museum operated by the Michigan Historical Center. It is furnished with the 19th century heirlooms of the Mann family including the family's sleigh, buggy, and many household implements. Caretakers recreate holiday celebrations by decorating and arranging the museum as it would have been seen during those times. A marbleized slate fireplace, peculiar catch-release doorknobs, and eight rooms of period furniture adorn the two-story house. Admission to Mann House is free.

Gourmet deli food, meats and cheeses by the pound, loaves of bread, and catering for just about any event! The Pickle Barrel Deli, serving high quality deli sandwiches, homemade soups and salads. Featuring Zingerman Bakehouse breads & pastries. Preservative-free meats and breads. Gluten-free bread available upon request. All products we use and sell are Michigan made. All packaging products are from Michigan Greensafe, using sugar and corn by-products...no petroleum based plastics. Open Monday through Friday 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday 11 am to 4 pm. "Keep it Local, Keep it Fresh"

This limestone building originally housed City Bank until 1927 when a new bank tower now City Hall was built across the street.

Jackson's Best Kept Lunch Secret of 2013

Sheridan Stewart was born on his family’s Centennial Farm in Tompkins Township on November 7, 1917. He attended Tomkins Center School in the Village, graduated from Jackson High school in 1935, and was a graduate of Michigan State University in Agriculture Science.
Sheridan was always a very community oriented citizen, serving many years as Trustee on the Township Board, a longtime member of the Tompkins Cemetery Association, and a member of Tompkins Grange.  His main interests in life were farming, hunting and the stock market.  He described himself as, “a farmer and an investor”.
In his final years he made the decision to leave his 175-acre family Centennial Farm to the Township of Tompkins to be used for a possible building site for a new Town Hall and fire station, with the balance to be developed into recreational facilities, including ball fields, soccer fields, nature trails, a Township museum and other public activities.
This 175-acre Centennial Farm is said to be the largest acreage ever donated to any Township in the State of Michigan.
The Tompkins Historical Society, and the people of the Township, gratefully acknowledge his generous contributions to the public interest.
Today the Tompkins Historical Society has restored the family home into a museum open to the public for tours and special events.  Improvements continue on the property to restore buildings, develop nature trails and recently the addition of a pavilion and school house.

This is a historical site honoring the birthplace of the Republican Party. On July 6, 1854, a state convention of anti-slavery men was held in Jackson, Michigan,  to found a new political party. Since the convention day was hot and the huge crowd could not be accommodated in the hall, the meeting adjourned to an oak grove on "Morgan's Forty" on the outskirts of the town forever known as "Under the Oaks".

Photo Courtesy of the Jackson District Library Photo Archives.

The First Universalist Church of Concord, constructed in 1866 is typical of the Gothic Revival style. The construction of a Universalist church in Concord reflects the trend of migration from New York State to Michigan in the mid-1800s since a significant number of the founding members of the Universalist Society, and subsequent members of the parish, were originally from New York.

Now in their third generation as a family owned-and-operated business, Vermeulen's Furniture Jackson showroom is a Furniture Landmark! In October 1997, the original store, which opened in 1929, was joined to the adjacent Masonic Building. The two buildings combined house seven floors of home furnishings.

Jackson Masonic Hall building is currently being used by Vermeulen's Furniture as showroom and warehouse space. However until 1988, this classic Beaux Arts building was Jackson Masonic Temple with elegant detailing and two grand entries.  In 1907, a building campaign was begun which culminated in the laying of the corner stone. Until the interior of the Lodge was completed, great fairs took place in the new auditorium to provide funds for the Temple construction. The first meeting of Jackson Masons took place in the new building the following year. Finally after 81 years the Mason's relocated to their current location.

Walt's Health Foods is a specialty store that supplies the Jackson area with nutritional supplements, herbs, and homeopathic items.  We also have herbal teas, gluten-free items, whole wheat and sprouted items, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Specialty flours, pastas, and such can be found also. We carry a little bit of everything and we are located in the heart of Downtown Jackson!

Originally four Stories including a Mansard roof, this late 19th century building housed City Hall on the upper floors. Walgreen's drug store occupied the street level for many years. The top two floors were removed in the early 1960's when it housed Lyle Hunt Sporting Goods. Walt's Health Food moved into the store space in the early 1980's from a  smaller location around the corner. 

The museum offers a vivid look into 19th century pioneer life. Costumed tour guides take visitors through a 10-room farmhouse built by a German immigrant and seven additional outbuildings. Displays of tools, clothing, furnishings, and decorations depict the era’s farm life.

The Central Railroad (later the Michigan Central Rail Road, or MCRR) came through Grass Lake in 1842, and the community grew around that first depot. In 1887, Grass Lake was awarded a stone depot designed by the same architects and with stone from the same quarry as the Ann Arbor station. This historic Romanesque train depot offers displays of local interest. Available for rentals, receptions, parties, and weddings. Heritage Day in September highlights the depot every year with an Open House.

The park features the sculpture Defense of the Flag or Jackson County Soldiers and Sailors Monument, an original Lorado Taft sculpture made of bronze and granite, surrounded by a beautiful flower garden and benches to rest from downtown shopping to enjoy it. The  memorial to the 3,282 men of the First and Seventeenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry regiments was erected by their commander, Gen. William H. Withington. Jackson holds the honor of mustering the first volunteer regiment of Civil War soldiers in the state, although it is not the first Civil War Memorial, it is one of the finest. It is unique in the fact that rather than organize a public fundraising drive as most did, Withington funded the memorial out of his own pocket. Although the monument bears a date of May 30, 1903, production problems delayed its dedication until June 14, 1904, by which time General Withington had died. Lorado Taft was a famous sculptor of the day and taught at the Art Institute of Chicago. For more information on the public sculpture of Jackson visit the Ella Sharp Museum at http://www.ellasharp.org/our-outdoor-sculpture.html . Photo Courtesy of the Jackson District Library Archives. 

Though it may not be the oldest cemetery in the city, it does contain the oldest historical burials. When the City of Jackson was first founded in 1829, the original cemetery was located on East Michigan Avenue. As our city expanded eastward, the need to properly honor its pioneers conflicted with the growing city landscape. Therefore, in 1890, a 25-acre plot of land was purchased from local landowner, James C. Wood, with the purpose of becoming Woodland Cemetery. The remains of Jackson’s pioneers were disinterred, and reinterred, into the newly designated cemetery.

Over the years, 68 more acres of land were added to the original 25, bringing the entire cemetery area up to 93 acres. There are numerous private mausoleums located throughout the cemetery landscape, including the Woodland Cemetery Mausoleum, which was built in 1919. Woodland also features a chapel, built in 1975, providing a peaceful, fitting location for interment services.

There are several unique and notable burials here but none as notable as William A. Foote, local entrepreneur. Foote, an Adrian native, founded Jackson Electric Light Works, which evolved into Consumers Energy. He was a robust man who died suddenly of a heart attack at age sixty. His wife founded Jackson's Foote Memorial Hospital in his memory. She also presumably made arrangements for the memorial sculpture in Woodland Cemetery.

William A. Foote Memorial, by Lorado Taft, bronze and granite, 1923

The William A. Foote Memorial is a three dimensional free-standing bronze figure positioned in front of a tall stone slab. This is not an uncommon design for this date, but it is an especially effective one. If the single figure on the Foote Memorial should stand, she would be roughly twice life-size larger than the statuary in the Evergreen Cemetery, Laura Evans Memorial. The large scale of the figure is not unique to this work by Taft. His other allegorical female figure in Michigan, Alma Mater (1929) at Muskegon High School, is about the same size, as are several of his other statues elsewhere. 

Taft created a grand and eloquent memorial for William Foote. The simple form of the polished black granite slab frames the allegorical figure majestically. The big-boned woman leans forward, holding a scroll of papers across her lap and a pen or stylus in her right hand. Her cloak is blown off her left shoulder, exposing a long and strong arm. Her youthful face is framed by short hair and a crown of laurel like that which the ancient Greeks bestowed upon their victors and heroes. Her eyes look over the heads of viewers and focus far in the distance. She seems lost in thought, perhaps remembering William Foote as she writes of his deeds in her scroll.

A small replica of this statue was placed at Taft's own gravestone, in Elmwood, Illinois, entitled "Memory", perhaps because the original was a favorite of Taft's wife. 

See more information about outdoor sculpture in Jackson at http://www.ellasharp.org/our-outdoor-sculpture.html