Last week we explored the two homes on Jefferson designed by Wallace Frost for the Bowen brothers – 16628 and 16632 East Jefferson.

This week we are going to explore some of the homes designed and/or built by Carl L. Meek, a known architect (and builder) in Grosse Pointe during the late 1920’s. Meek designed, and built, several homes in the community, including: 

  • 610 University Place (1926)
  • 604 University Place (1928)
  • 587 University Place (1928)
  • 598 University Place (1929)
  • 592 University Place (1929)
  • 229 Merriweather (1928)
  • 160 Touraine (1928)
  • 679 and 525 Rivard (1928)
  • 621 Fisher (1929)
  • 31 Renaud (1930)

Very little is known about Carl L. Meek and his career, but he was responsible, during the 1920’s, for not only…

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Last week we introduced you to 180 Lewiston and arguably the most prestigious residents to live in Grosse Pointe - Russian nobility, the Count, and Countess Tolstoy.

This week we turn our attention to two very distinguished homes on E. Jefferson designed by the extremely talented Wallace Frost. Brothers, Edgar W. Bowen, and Julian P. Bowen, owned the two homes, located in close proximity to each other – 16628 E. Jefferson, and 16632 E. Jefferson.

Edgar Woodbury Bowen was born in Detroit in 1886. His brother, Julian Perry Bowen, was born a year later in 1887. The siblings, graduates of the University of Michigan, both held senior positions (Edgar was Vice President and Secretary, while Julian was Vice President and Treasurer) at the Ferry-Morse,…

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Happy 2019!

In our last post we profiled one of E. Jefferson’s grand old ladies, 16004 E. Jefferson. Built in 1907 it was designed by the Detroit based firm of Mildner & Eisen for Dr. Herman Kreit.

This week we would like to present 180 Lewiston. This post isn’t so much about the house, but more about the rather highly noted couple that once resided in the home. As we mentioned in a recent post on 40 Sunningdale, some extremely prominent people have owned homes in Grosse Pointe. However, when Russian nobility - Count, and Countess Tolstoy - moved into 180 Lewiston this catapulted the home to the top of the charts in having the most prestigious residents of all.

180 Lewiston was designed by Marcus Burrowes, and completed in 1922 for Cameron…

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Last week we turned our attention to a significant period of transformation, the 1950s, introducing you to 40 Sunningdale and its high profile residents which has included a retired air force general, Henry Ford’s grandson, and a baseball superstar. 

This week we step back to 1907 and explore one of E. Jefferson’s grand old ladies, 16004 E. Jefferson. 

Built in 1907, 16004 E. Jefferson was designed by the Detroit based firm of Mildner & Eisen for Dr. Herman Kreit. The land on which the property is located dates back to 1811 when French settler, Joseph Tremble was granted the land by President James Madison. Paul Trombley later owned the site. In 1889 William Voigt purchased the plot for a reported $1,850 (around $50,000 today). Source: Traveling…

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Last week we reviewed the fascinating street of Grosse Pointe Blvd and previewed four homes, built between 1922 and 1940, that crossed several architectural periods and styles.

This week we stay in Grosse Pointe Farms and head to one of the stunning homes on Ridge Road, number 166. 

Running through the heart of the Farms Ridge Road is one of the communities more distinctive streets. Based on research by the Grosse Pointe Historical Society, we understand, in 1885, most of the land between Ridge and Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Farms, was a heavily wooded swamp that extended several miles north and south. The nuns at the Grosse Pointe Academy (known as the Sacred Heart Academy in that era)owned the land that ran from the convent, via Kenwood, all…

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Last week we turned our attention to one of Grosse Pointes modern homes, 270 Grosse Pointe Blvd, designed by Karl H. Greimel. Recently razed, it was a superb example of a mid century residence.

This week we stay on Grosse Pointe Blvd to preview four homes that cross several architectural periods and styles.

Grosse Pointe Blvd is a fascinating road. It is one of the widest streets in all of the Grosse Pointe communities, and home to several of the areas most recognized buildings – Grosse Pointe South, Christ Church, St Paul’s, The Academy, and the Unitarian Church. It is also one of the longest streets, from its starting point at he corner of Moross, Grosse Pointe Farms, it travels 2.6 miles through to Kensington Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park. Along…

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Last week we presented one of the oldest homes in Grosse Pointe, Wardell House, located at 16109 E. Jefferson, Grosse Pointe Park.

This week we turn our attention to one of Grosse Pointes modern homes, 270 Grosse Pointe Blvd, constructed in 1961.The Pointes feature a number of modern buildings which are the work of many artists who lead the way in popularizing modern design, including: Marcel Breuer, Eero and Eliel Saarinen, Alden Dow, Alexander Girard, and William Kessler.

The community has a wonderful blend of the old and the new – the grand mansions built at the beginning of the 20th century, and the handful of mid century modern homes that present us with a glimpse into a unique architectural style.

270 Grosse Pointe Blvd was one such…

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Over the past couple of weeks we have presented the work of Jens Jensen at the Ford Estate, Gaulker Pointe, and also introduced some of the other key designers who contributed to creating this beautiful estate.

This week we would like to present one of the oldest homes in Grosse Pointe, Wardwell House, located at 16109 E. Jefferson, Grosse Pointe Park.

William Buck, a prosperous English farmer, purchased the land in 1845, and built the main part of this house around 1849. During this era the early homes that had been constructed in Grosse Pointe were primarily clapboard farmhouses, constructed from wood. Two of the oldest recorded clapboard farmhouses are – The Cadieux House now located at 533 St Clair Avenue, Grosse Pointe, and the Provençal…

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Last week we presented the work of Jens Jensen at the Ford Estate, Gaulker Pointe. Jensen was quite possibly one of the most famous landscape architects to work in the community, and his time at Ford estate resulted in one of the most beautiful residences in southeastern Michigan. This week we continue the story of Jensen’s work at the property, and introduce some of the other key designers who also contributed.

Much of Jensen’s work at the Ford Estate followed similar patterns he had employed in many of his projects. For example one key component to some of his work was walkways around a central meadow. Jensen also incorporated many wild bird habitats, favoring shrubs and tree species with fruits favored by birds. And he was also a huge advocate…

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Last week we introduced you to the Tennis House, a rather iconic building located at 360 Moselle Place, Grosse Pointe Farms. This week we stay with icons as we investigate the wonderful Ford Estate, in part one of a two part series. 

When we think of the Ford Estate thoughts immediately turn to the stunning Cotswold house, designed by Albert Kahn for Edsel and Eleanor Ford in 1929. However, putting the house to one side, the original 125-acre estate, located at Gaukler Pointe, is also home to magnificent gardens, and several additional eye-catching buildings.

Over the years Grosse Pointe has played host to some of the leading, and renowned landscape architects in the United States, including: Ellen Biddle Shipman, Ruth Bramley Dean, William…

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