Commissioned by prominent Houghton residents Mary Shelden and James R. Dee, the Shelden-Dee building is one of the key architectural landmarks of central Houghton. It was built in 1899-1900 for an estimated $75,000 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed of Jacobsville sandstone with elaborately carved doorways, the Shelden-Dee provided elegant commercial and office space in the prosperous downtown. Initially home to a drug store, shoe store, dry goods, café, and saloon, the large front windows and prismatic glass transoms above helped project sunlight into the back of the street level stores. A barbershop operated out of the basement and the upper floors contained office suites which were leased well before construction was complete. Today, the upstairs offices are residential apartments.