Chapin Mansion | MiPlace

AWARDEES: City of Niles; Niles History Center; and Mihm Enterprises, Inc.

Rehabilitation of the Chapin Mansion, Niles

Henry and Ruby Chapin built this highly decorative mansion in downtown Niles in 1884. Family heirs gifted the mansion to the city in 1932 to be used for civic purposes, and it became Niles’ City Hall. When city offices moved out in 2012, it was time for the mansion’s next chapter as part of the Niles History Center, the city’s municipally operated museum.

In consultation with community and city leaders, the History Center developed a plan to preserve the historical elements of the mansion while interpreting the civic history which took place there during its era as City Hall. Several local artists and craftspeople restored interior murals, repaired stained glass windows and repaired or replaced damaged wood details. New storm windows have added protection and a sensitively designed accessibility ramp now allows improved access for all. Starting in 2022, a project took shape to repair the mansion’s complex slate tile roof and ridge caps, replace failing gutters and downspouts, and repair wood windows throughout. A SHPO Certified Local Government grant funded part of this work, but the city made a substantial investment to ensure it was done to the highest standards.

Since 2012, more than $1.5 million has been invested into the mansion property from a combination of state, local, and private sources. The Chapin Mansion today hosts annual events, programming, and school and adult tours showcasing regional history. Niles has demonstrated a commitment to the mansion and gone above and beyond in its care, making it a true gem in southwest Michigan.

Chapin Mansion, Niles

AWARDEES: City of Niles; Niles History Center; and Mihm Enterprises, Inc.

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