Ball House

The Ball House is an elegant and well-preserved example of Queen Anne architecture. It was built in 1892 by Dr. J.O. and Catherine Ball, who used a design created by nationally known architect George F. Barber. Barber published mail-order books containing house plans and the Balls found the design for their home in his 1891 book. The house features many decorative elements including a circular window on the second floor surrounded by three small (false) balconies, a wraparound porch, an octagonal tower topped by an "ogee" shaped roof, turned spindles in the railings, and decorative carved panels. Dr. Ball was a dentist but was also an active supporter of modernizing Mount Pleasant's infrastructure. The house continues to be a private residence.

Dr. Ball was not only a trained dentist, he was also knowledgeable about electricity and was, in fact, a manufacturer of light meters. Given this interest, he believed that the city should have its own electricity system. As a result, in the mid-1890s he designed and supervised the construction of the city's light plant. Ball also supported improving the city's water supply and advocated that the city take over the gas system from a private operator.

In the building the house, Ball was also interested in making a modern statement. The Queen Anne style was popular in the country at the time and Ball perhaps thought it would be a departure from the many Italianate-style homes in the city. The house is the first in Mount Pleasant to be electrified for lighting, and still contains the original hot water radiators. The cavities in the exterior walls were also filled with an extra layer of lath and plaster to provide more insulation, which increased the house's thermal efficiency.

Ball sold the house in 1907 to the next owner who lived in it until 1935 when he died. For the next couple of years it was rented before becoming a nursing home. The local health department closed the nursing home in the early 1970s and by then the house had fallen into a state of disrepair. However, subsequent owners have restored it. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Cordes, David. "Ball, Dr. J. O. & Catherine, House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. April 10, 1986. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/94000404_text.