Beech House History
Dr. John Beech, Civil War Surgeon born in 1819 in Gaines, New York and came to Coldwater in 1850 and built the Italianate style home with his wife, Eliza Crownse in 1856. She died in 1859 and Dr. Beech married twice more, Mary Jane Petty in 1861 who passed away in 1872 and Sarah Skeels. A “Ladies Library” was started in the home and on the property, until the Clark Library was opened in 1886. Dr. Beech died in 1878 in Coldwater.
In 1907 Horace and Grace Kitchel purchased the home and stucco was added to the exterior, the original cuppola was removed, and the roofline was raised several feet. At this time new dormers were added to the attic ballroom and windows were enlarged. The home is almost unrecognizable to the original home built by the Dr. Beech. In 1936 Frank and Lulu McKonkey bought the home to be used as a funeral home, it was sold in 1946 to Kenneth and Eleanor Putnam to be used as the same. It remained vacant for several years, till 2022 when a group of concerned citizens formed a non-profit organization to develop the idea of using the home as a cultural center for the community. |
Coldwater Community Center
11 E. Chicago St.
Coldwater, MI 49036
11 E. Chicago St.
Coldwater, MI 49036
Follow Us On Facebook for more updates!