To spot the Charles Kent House, look for a peach-pink, gingerbread-trimmed wooden house with steep gables and ornate details surrounded by lush gardens right ahead of you.
Welcome to the Charles Kent House! Take a deep breath and imagine yourself back in 1843, when this house was freshly built and the air was full of sawdust, horse hooves, and the promise of a new town. Charles Kent, the son of Zenas Kent and brother to Marvin Kent-the guy who lent his name to the city itself-called this place home. Back then, the house stood just down the street, until 1909 when it seemed doomed for demolition. The town was buzzing: Should it stay or should it go? Luckily, a local hero named Martin L. Davey, future mayor and eventual governor, convinced the owner to move the entire house a whopping 150 feet north, saving it for future generations-and probably giving the local movers a day they’d never forget! Later, Dr. Maurice and Louisa Palmer made it their long-time home, which is why you might hear it called the Palmer House too. For years it was white with blue shutters, but today, its vibrant colors make it stand proudly as a mix of Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, and Carpenter Gothic styles. So while you’re here, listen to the whispers of history all around and snap a photo-just imagine carrying this whole house up the street without spilling your coffee!
