A crowdfunding effort is underway for the restoration of an historic home in Niles. The Chapin Mansion was built in 1882 by Henry and Ruby Chapin. Niles History Center Director Christina Arseneau tells WSJM News Henry was a prominent businessman in the community.
“His grandchildren left it to the city in 1933 to be used or civic purposes and it served as Niles City Hall until 2012, and at that point it was taken over by the Niles History Center kind of to be turned into a community center with exhibits,” Arseneau said.
Arseneau says the mansion is used for some exhibits, but it’s not universally accessible. That’s part of what they want to fix with a planned $30,000 renovation project. She says they’ll also renovate the facade. The effort is intended to allow for more community access to the Chapin Mansion. The crowdfunding campaign has a matching pledge from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. If $15,000 is raised, the MEDC will chip in another $15,000.
Photo courtesy of the Niles History Center.
