Where is this?
Can you tell us where this is located? Drop us a line at mail@sjindy.com.
Lynne Laurence Gregory writes: “This house is located at 402 S. Lansing. The birdseye map from 1868 shows this house was here then. In 1934 the house was purchased by Dean and Agnes Laurence but was very different then. It had a large front porch and the area including the courtyard south was not there.
“In 1937 the Laurences purchased the little old house that sat south of the original house. This was torn down and because Dean Laurence had been a star varsity swimmer at MSU, the basement was walled with concrete for the first swimming pool in St Johns. The garage on the south side with the office above, the courtyard, the “rumpus” room [a play room for the Laurence daughters] were built at this time also. Through the years, many other additions and changes were made to the house by the Laurences until 1956 when the house was sold to the Corkins who also made changes.
“This was followed by the Warrens [more changes] , the Wisemans and finally the Thomas who are the present owners.
Also, the little playhouse in the back was built for me by my grandfather, Richard Houseman, my uncle Herschel Woodhams and my dad Dean Laurence.
“I have very pleasant memories of growing up in this house.”
Maxine Matson added: “This house is at 402 South Lansing St. and is the home of John and Renee Thomas.”