David and Elizabeth Bell Boldman House

The David and Elizabeth Bell Boldman House was a basilica-style Greek Revival with a two-story center section flanked by single-story wings.[2] The center section had an open, two-story portico with a square Doric column at each end and a triangular pediment above. The basilica style of Greek Revval house is unique to southeast Michigan, western New York and northeast Ohio, and the two-story portico is relatively rare in the north.[2] The front facade had a center door with two flanking windows surrounded by fluted molding, and two matching windows on the second story. The house was built of wood[3] with a foundation of fieldstone,[2] and portions of hand-hewn log construction were visible in the basement.[3]

Henry Boldman came to Canton Township from Scotland via New York,[3] one of the first settlers in the township. He built this house around 1835.[2] It was enlarged by his son David Boldman, the establisher of a cheese factory,[3] around 1858.[2] David Boldman was very involved in township government, holding the posts of highway commissioner, constable, and township treasurer multiple times between 1847 and 1875.[3]

The David and Elizabeth Bell Boldman House is significant in its reflection of the growing affluence of the area's settlers and their sense of pride in their improving situation.[2]

• Canton Township MPS
• Canton Charter Township, Michigan