Real Estate Blog - May, 2020

Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – The Lost Estates – Rose Terrace I and II – Part 2

Last week we explored “Rose Terrace I” completed in 1910, by Albert Kahn for Horace Elgin Dodge. 

This week we present the story of its successor, “Rose Terrace II” – arguably the most acclaimed residence to be designed, built, and razed, in all of the Grosse Pointe communities. And one of the finest houses of its kind to be built in the United States. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

“Rose Terrace II” was located at 12 Lake Shore Drive on an 8.8-acre site where “Rose Terrace I” and the original Country Club of Detroit had once stood. The original home had been razed in 1931, to accommodate the new French-styled Louis XV château for Anna Dodge (widow of Horace E. Dodge) and her second husband, former actor Hugh Dillman. 

The palatial palace…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – The Lost Estates – Rose Terrace I and II – Part 1

Last week we presented the story of 17800 E. Jefferson, completed by Albert Kahn for Charles M. Swift in 1905 – now a lost estate. 

This week we turn our attention to the house next-door - 17840 E. Jefferson, “Rose Terrace I”, completed in 1910, for Horace Elgin Dodge - another of Albert Kahn’s masterpieces. Given the significance of this property and its successor we thought it was about time to tell the story of “Rose Terrace I”, and its later replacement “Rose Terrace II” next week. Photo is courtesy of: Legacy of Albert Kahn by W. Hawkins Ferry.

“Rose Terrace I” was located at 17840 E. Jefferson. Prior to its commission Horace E. Dodge, the younger of the Dodge siblings, had purchased land adjoining the former Detroit Country Club…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – The Lost Estate – 17800 E. Jefferson

Last week we presented 189 Cloverly, the Spanish Colonial Revival home designed by Albert Kahn for Julius H. Haass in 1927.

This week we stay with the work of Albert Kahn as we explore his creation at 17800 E. Jefferson – now a lost estate.

During the early 20th Century Albert Kahn was already a well-established architect in the city of Detroit. Under the name of Albert Kahn Associates (the firm he formed with his brother Julius, in 1895) Kahn’s skills were in high demand from wealthy clientele to create stately residences in the constantly evolving affluent suburbs of Detroit. 

After completing 81 Lake Shore, a grand Italian inspired residence completed in 1904, for Albert L. Stephens, Kahn was commissioned by Charles M. Swift to design a…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 189 Cloverly

Last week we presented 81 Lake Shore – a grand Italian inspired residence completed in 1904, by Albert Kahn for Albert L. Stephens. 

This week we head to a Mediterranean inspired residence with a visit to 189 Cloverly, completed by Mildner & Eisen in 1927, for Julius H. Haass. Photo: courtesy of Google.com.

The architectural approach for 189 Cloverly is primarily Spanish Colonial Revival – a mixture of styles derived from the Mediterranean. Inspiration for this style was derived from the adobe and Spanish Colonial buildings of southern California, medieval Spanish churches and the Baroque architecture of colonial Spain and Portugal. The style grew in popularity thanks in part to the popularity of Spanish colonial buildings in the 1915 San…

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