Last week we presented the history of 15440 Windmill Pointe, designed by renowned architect Louis Kamper for Herbert V. Book in 1921. The fantastic French Chateaux, one of the finest homes to have graced Grosse Pointe, was razed in 1978 after a fire.

This week we stay with the work of Louis Kamper as we head to 1008 Buckingham, Grosse Pointe Park. This magnificent home was completed in 1921-1922 for Kurt Kling, of the P. H. Kling Brewing Company.

1008 Buckingham is a fine English Tudor style stately home. The 4,140 sq ft residence was designed by one of the most impactful designers to have graced Detroit. As with any residence designed by Kamper, the architectural detailing inside and out is second to none. The home is filled with high ceilings,…

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Last week we presented the work of respected architect F. Gordon Pickell. Mr. Pickell not only designed the magnificent 246 Lakeland, but he also created two fine homes on University Place.

As part of our research, we discovered 354 University Place (designed by Mr. Pickell) was once owned by Frank Palms Book, a descendent of one of Grosse Pointe’s Oldest families. Mr. Book was the son of Dr. James B. Book, a wealthy Detroit landowner for whom the Book Building is named. Frank Book was a leading Detroit real estate developer who helped maintain the Book Estate. His younger brother, Herbert Vivian Book, was the former owner of 15440 Windmill Pointe, the fantastic French Chateaux that was razed in 1978. So, this week, we are going to delve deeper…

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Last week we presented the history of the Crowley family and the two stunning homes on Lakeland that were once owned by Joseph and Daniel Crowley – 203 and 243 Lakeland. 

This week we stay on Lakeland to look at the work of respected architect F. Gordon Pickell. Mr. Pickell not only designed the magnificent 246 Lakeland, but he also created two fine homes on University Place.

F. Gorden Pickell was born in Jackson, Mississippi on February 3, 1881. He studied architecture in New York, Philadelphia and London. It is believed he began his architectural career in Philadelphia, where he worked for several firms, before relocating to Detroit around 1909. He quickly became a respected architect in the city and became the first president of the American…

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Last week we explored the history of 28 Beverly Road, a superb example of a Mission Revival style home designed by Alpheus W. Chittenden for banker William P. Hamilton in 1911/1912.

A couple of weeks ago we presented the history of 44 Beverly Road that was completed for the younger of the Crowley brothers, William. This week we will take a closer look at the Crowley family and the two stunning homes on Lakeland that were once owned by Joseph and Daniel Crowley. The father of the three brothers was Conellus Crowley.

In 1825, Conellus Crowley was born in County Kerry in Ireland. It was reported “Mr. Crowley, left Ireland around 1844 as part of a huge wave of Europeans, chiefly Irish and German, who came to the United States in the mid1800s to…

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