Saginaw Art Museum

Currently a local art museum, the structure was once home to one of the most prominent lumber barons in the Saginaw Valley. Clark Lombard Ring and wife Elizabeth Palmer Merrill Ring commissioned Charles Adams Platt to build their home with Italian villa and Georgian Revival stylistic influences. Platt came from a wealthy New York City family, studied at the National Academy of Design, and first gain recognition for his etchings. He was elected to the British Royal Society of Painter-Etchers in 1882. Platt was only beginning his career in architecture and landscape designed when he created the Ring Home, which the Saginaw Art Museum notes is the "grandest piece of the Museum's permanent collection."

Eleazar Jesse Ring relocated his family to Saginaw from Sandusky, Ohio, in order to manage the Ryan and Johnson Company's lumbermill. Clark Lombard Ring, along with siblings William and Annie, grew up in the bustling lumber capital. Clark followed his father into the lumber business, and soon he and his father prospered and owned their own operations.

In 1883, Clark married Elizabeth Palmer Merrill, daughter of another prominent lumber family. Lizzie, as she was known, and Clark's union also joined the families in business. Lizzie's father Thomas Merrill and her husband created the Merrill and Ring Lumber Company. Their venture would prove very successful.

Ring's influence on the community extended beyond lumber; he was a key figure in the consolidation of Saginaw City and East Saginaw into one new city. He served on the board of aldermen as well.

In 1896, Clark and Lizzie inherited the Ring family home when Eleazar died. The couple lived in the grand home in a fashionable neighborhood at 1126 N. Michigan Ave. There they raised children Thomas, Jessie, and Elizabeth. During those years, the couple began to plan for a new home to be built on the same site. They enlisted architect Charles Adams Platt to created their Italian and Georgian Revival influenced home.

Before gaining attention as architect, Platt had become celebrated for his etchings. He took time to work in Paris and travel Europe for inspiration. He wrote and published a book Italian Gardens in 1893. Due to the book and articles for Harper's Weekly, he received several commissions for large-scale garden designs.

The commission for the Ring's home gave Platt the opportunity to create a space wherein the home and gardens would be one grand masterpiece, working in harmony. Platt achieved unity through symmetry which can be noted in the design of the red brick and white pillared home and formal gardens. In addition to formal gardens that were planted to show well in every season, there were sculptures, pergolas, and other out buildings. Platt also created a bosco, or wild garden, that would seems as if it just grew naturally although it was well designed. The bosco even had an artificial stream that could be turned on or off.

Now the Ring home serves as an art museum with a permanent collection featuring American and European artists from the 18th-21st centuries along with temporary exhibits. The Museum also maintains the historic gardens.

"Ring Family History," Saginaw Art Museum. https://www.saginawartmuseum.org/about/history/ (Accessed Jan. 13, 2022).

"Charles Adams Platt" Saginaw Art Museum. https://www.saginawartmuseum.org/about/history/ (Accessed Jan. 13, 2022).