Shores Homes and Businesses May Get Historical Designation

Residential and commercial building throughout St. Clair Shores will have an opportunity to receive special historical designation through a new program approved by City Council

The city's Historical Commission received approval to launch a Historical Marker Program which will acknowledge homes and businesses built in, or before 1951, the year the city was founded.

Structures that qualify for the program could receive a black oval marker with silver lettering for those built before 1951, or markers with gold lettering for those 100 years old or older.

"We have a rich history in St. Clair Shores," said Gerald Sieiagoski, chairman of the Historical Commission. "We would like to recognize the unique history of longstanding structures here by allowing homeowners and businesses to recognize their structures by a historical marker." 

Owners of the structures can apply for the designation by providing documented proof of the age of the homes and business to the commission along with a check for $125 for the plaque.

If the age is verified, the plaque will be delivered to the home and a dedication ceremony at the owner's request.

While the program designates historical structures in the city, it will not prevent the owner from renovating or improving the structures.

"It just commemorates a structure that was built before 1951 when St. Clair Shores became a city," Sieiagoski said.

The plaques currently will be purchased from the Home Depot, but local vendors will be sought, he added. There are 5,148 homes built prior to 1952 in the Shores according to the commission.

"This is a fantastic program for the city," Councilman Candice Rusie said.

For more information about this program, visit the

or www.scslibrary.org/historicalcomm.html