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Clinton in Lenawee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
 

Jira Payne House
⎯⎯⎯
The Smith-Kimball Family

 
 
Jira Payne House / The Smith-Kimball Family Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, May 14, 2017
1. Jira Payne House / The Smith-Kimball Family Marker
Inscription.
Jira Payne House
This Greek Revival house was built around 1840 by Jira Payne, owner of the Atlas sawmill. The twin fluted Ionic columns, flanked by square Doric piers, were hand hewn from trees on this property. Emil Lorch, professor of architecture at the University of Michigan from 1906 to 1936, called the portico "one of the most monumental in Michigan." Owned by the George Pomeroy family from 1848 to 1858, the house, known as Pomeroy, Hall was a center of social life in Clinton.

The Smith-Kimball Family
In 1862, John Smith, a Clinton merchant and community leader, purchased this house where he lived until his death in 1886. Smith's son Edwin and daughter-in-law Eupania resided here with their daughter Blanche and her husband, Leander W. Kimball. In 1891-1892 they remodeled extensively by adding second stories to the wings and stained-glass windows. After Leander Kimball died in 1955, Blanch donated the property to the residents of Clinton for use as a community center.
 
Erected 1992 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1503.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker
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is listed in these topic lists: ArchitectureIndustry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.
 
Location. 42° 4.233′ N, 83° 58.222′ W. Marker is in Clinton, Michigan, in Lenawee County. It is at the intersection of Tecumseh Road and East Franklin Street, on the left when traveling south on Tecumseh Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 Tecumseh Road, Clinton MI 49236, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Clinton Schools (within shouting distance of this marker); St. John's Episcopal Church (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Clinton Downtown Historic District (about 700 feet away); Clinton / Site of the Clinton Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away);
Jira Payne House / The Smith-Kimball Family Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, May 14, 2017
2. Jira Payne House / The Smith-Kimball Family Marker
George Deloss Bowman Memorial Bench (approx. Ό mile away); Veterans Memorial Bench (approx. Ό mile away); Armistice (Veterans) Day (approx. Ό mile away); All Gave Some - Some Gave All (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clinton.
 
Jira Payne House / The Smith-Kimball Family Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, May 14, 2017
3. Jira Payne House / The Smith-Kimball Family Marker
Jira Payne House / Smith Kimball Community Center image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, May 14, 2017
4. Jira Payne House / Smith Kimball Community Center
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 480 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 2, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
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Jul. 28, 2026