E. J. Rugg House, 319 Grove St. (1903)

E. J. Rugg House, November 2003. Photo Credit: Kevin S. Forsyth.

This house formerly stood at 201 E. Grand River, due south of its current location, next door to the Dickson house. It has been a rental property for nearly its entire existence, such as housing the Phylean Literary Society for the 1915–16 school year.* In its last year or two on Grand River, the Rugg house was home to the Wildwood Tea Rooms, operated by sisters Lulu and Iza Bell Smith. It was moved to Grove Street around 1921 to make room for the J. A. Hicks Block (1922–2017).[MAC Directory (1915), p. 59]

Edwin and Margaret Rugg’s previous house was built in 1898 on the southwest corner of Brooks’ Addition to College Delta, where they were “pioneers in the rooming and boarding house business.”[Minutes, 27 Sep 1898, p. 235. Towar, p. 44]