Big chunks of Port Huron’s historic environment have been taken through the rise of (1) the central city and county governmental offices and (2) St. Clair County Community College. But McLaren Hospital and its sphere of influence make up a third big chunk. (Of course, much has been lost outside of these chunks as well.)
Recently, a nice Canadian museum volunteer inquired about a house that formerly stood across from Pine Grove Park, and it accelerated my interest in discovering what buildings used to stand in place of today’s McLaren Hospital. If you know Port Huron, you know that the hospital is not the only reason that historic buildings have been razed in that area, but that the medical offices which sprung up behind it have cleared out some of the city’s historic assets, too. So what are the damages? A quick (preliminary) look at the issue shows that the damages are fairly extensive, if such a measure can be named or rated. An in-depth study should be done to help us understand what this part of Port Huron was like in the city’s past.
Port Huron Area History & Preservation 