Pronnet House, 124 North Clinton Street, 1899, Queen Anne Style

​The Henry and Elizabeth Pronnet House, located at 124 North Clinton Street, was constructed in 1899. It is an elegant example of Queen Anne architecture, complete with a wraparound porch, asymmetrical façade and many recently uncovered, original features on the interior. The home in many ways exemplifies the story of Adrian as a city swelling with prosperity at the turn of the century. Its original owner, Henry Pronnet, began the decade of the 1890s in a modest home now demolished next door—by the end of the century, he had constructed this opulently adorned Queen Anne structure.

Queen Anne architecture is often what springs to mind when people think of Victorian homes, but Queen Anne is really one of several home styles popular in the United States in the late 19th century—all related by their visual and structural complexity. The form was ascendant in the United States (and Adrian) from roughly 1880-1900. Builders and architects of the time rejected classical architectural rules about symmetry and complementarity. Instead, the Queen Anne form embraced exuberant details and contrast. Such houses featured steep and varied roof lines and often had porch jut-outs and recessed nook cut outs. Queen Annes are also ​known for their variety of exterior decorations, including fish scale shaped shingles, intricate wood carvings, and turn-carved porch posts. Their asymmetrical facades were matched by asymmetry in the interior layouts, while machine-turned posts were repeated on their interior staircases. The result is a whimsical design (but with proportions that can easily evoke the grotesque in the right lighting).

​The original owner of 124 Clinton, Henry Pronnet, worked as a plasterer and decorator, supplying Adrian’s wealthy with their wall coverings throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s Though paint now dominates American home interiors, fine wallpaper was the preferred finish in the Victorian era. Pronnet owned a store on nearby Maumee Street, which advertised an exclusive line of wallpaper as well as other interior decorations. This advertisement ran frequently in the Daily Telegram throughout the 1890s:

​Henry was born in Tiffin, Ohio, married his first wife, Gertrude in Goshen Indiana in 1878, and the two moved to Adrian in 1881. They occupied a small home on Clinton Street, in close proximity to Pronnet’s store on Maumee. In 1897, Gertrude died of consumption (likely Tuberculosis) and was survived by Henry. In 1899, the Daily Telegram reported a surprise wedding of Henry to a new bride, Elizabeth Savage, and the two planned to take up residence in a new home next door, which today is 124 Clinton. This was a fairly common occurrence of the day; marriage would occasion the construction of a new home. One can understand Elizabeth’s desire to live in a fine and modern home upon her marriage (and avoid the home where Gertrude had died of Tuberculosis!)
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The Telegram reports that Pronnet’s business was successful, and his new Queen Anne is a testament to his burgeoning affluence. The exterior presents the most popular Queen Anne façade form, with a hipped roof and protruding gable. On the south side, the gable is cantilevered over 45-degree-facing windows.

The interior of the home features beveled (etched) glass windows which refract light and cast rainbows. There are plaster medallions around light fixtures, and flat sawn white oak woodwork throughout. The fireplace features columns and quarter-sawn oak, two features that were gaining popularity at the turn of the century. The cast iron, coal fire basket has been preserved. Coal would have provided long-lasting heat to the home without much maintenance, which was an amenity welcomed by urban dwellers. The coal would have deposited visible soot on the roofs of houses throughout Adrian’s urban center.

The interior of the home features beveled glass windows that refract light and cast rainbows.

The hall staircase makes a 90 degree turn that puts the spindles and trim on full display.

Perhaps the jewel of the home is the staircase hall, which would have served to welcome and impress guests when it was built. It features egg and dart detailing in oak. Note the 90 degree turn that the stairs take with large landings at the bottom and midpoint. Architectural magazines of the day warned against the fanned, spiral staircases used earlier in the century. They encouraged easy turns and spacious landings that would a afford a “rest” as the stairs were climbed. Therefore, not only did such right angle turns give an elegant, balcony like effect showing off the wood spindles, but they were designed for comfort and safety.

​Henry Pronnet lived in the home for nearly a half-century until his death in 1941 at age 87. The home was then used as a doctor’s office and various group homes. The current owner has worked to uncover many of its Victorian-age details, including meticulously stripping brown paint from the oak trim. He has also added many antiques and period appropriate window coverings.

​Essay © Tom Crosby, 2025