Last week we went to 379 Lakeland in Grosse Pointe. This historic home was designed by the phenomenal architect Hugh T. Keyes in 1925, for Jerome Emmet Joseph Keane, a stockbroker, banker, and financial consultant. Over the course of its 100-year history it has only been owned by three families.
This week we stay with the work of Hugh T. Keyes as we explore one of his modern creations, 551 Lake Shore. It was completed in 1957, for Leo Fiztpatrick, a national figure in radio broadcasting and a veteran of both World Wars.
551 Lake Shore is an 8,800 sq ft custom built residence, designed by Hugh Keyes and built by Monahan and Gould. Constructed of steel and concrete it is situated on a large lot with 96 feet on Lake Shore and 268 feet on Deeplands. The impressive front entrance hall had a marble floor, a chandelier from a French Chateau, and a spectacular free standing circular staircase that leads to the second floor. As per the sales material in 1980, we can confirm the first floor had a large 24’ x 20’ sq ft living room (with a sizeable bay window), a 17’ x 23’ sq ft garden room, a 22’ x 21’ sq ft lake room, and a 19’ x 18’ sq ft dining room also with a bay window. There was also an 18’ x 19’ sq ft library, a kitchen, flower room, and a maid’s dining room with built-in cabinets. Many of the rooms on the first floor had parquet floors and ceilings 10 feet plus in height. The second floor had a spacious 22’ x 10’ sq ft landing sitting area, and three main bedrooms - the huge 18’ x 25’ sq ft master bedroom has a fireplace plus his and her dressing rooms and bathrooms. Each of the family bedrooms has a balcony, which runs the entire length of the house, providing a perfect view of Lake St. Clair. The second floor was also the location of two bedrooms for the maids and a service stairway. The three-car heated garage was attached to the house by a breeze way. The property also had a 27’ x 31’ sq ft terrace, an intercom system, and an elevator.
The original owner was Leo J. Fiztpatrick, a national figure in radio broadcasting and veteran of both World Wars. He was born in 1894, in Wichita, Kansas. Having graduated from the University of Kansas he started work as a reporter for a on a Wichita newspaper in 1916. Following 18 months serving with the Navy in World War I he resumed his career in journalism. It was reported “because Mr. Fitzpatrick had written several articles about ‘the new phenomenon of radio’ for The Kansas City Star in 1921, the newspaper put him in charge when it founded WDAF in 1923. That same year, he was then appointed, by President Hoover, to the Federal Radio Conference, a forerunner of the Federal Communication Commission. Mr. Fitzpatrick came to Detroit in 1925, as general manager of WJR, while becoming a part owner of WGAR in Cleveland.” Source: nytimes.com (1971). During World War II he was a consultant to the Office of War Information.In 1946, he served with army (part of General Douglas MacArthur's occupational staff) as director of radio facilities in Japan and Korea. That same year he left WJR and acquired WGR in Buffalo. Source: nytimes.com (1971). He was married to Patricia and together they had a son and a daughter. Prior to commissioning his modern home at 551 Lake Shore, the couple resided at 87 Cloverly (built in 1928), a striking French inspired home designed by the talented architect D. Allen Wright. Leo J. Fiztpatrick passed on December 16, 1971.
From our files, 551 Lake Shore we first listed for sale in the summer of 1979. In 1980, the property became the location of the Junior League of Detroit’s 3rd Decorator’s Show House (now known as the Designer’s Show House), which ran that year from April 26-May 18. It was one of the few modern style homes selected for the event. It sold several months later for $375,000 (around $1.4m today). The property was then listed for sale again in December 1983 - the listing included all designer furnishings and exterior statuary.
The architect of 551 Lake Shore, Hugh T. Keyes was a phenomenal designer; we have featured his work on many occasions. He is considered one of the most versatile architects to work in southeastern Michigan. He was born in Trenton, MI in 1888, and studied architecture at Harvard University. After graduating he became an associate of Albert Kahn working on one of Kahn’s major projects, the Detroit Athletic Club. Following a period of employment with the leading architectural firm in Detroit, Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, Keyes opened his own office in 1921. His style was wonderfully diverse, encompassing Tudor Revival, rustic Swiss Chalets, Mediterranean, Georgian, through to International and Modern style homes. Keyes was a designer of many fine residences in the Grosse Pointes, including 551 Lake Shore.
If you have a home, building or street you would like us to profile please contact Higbie Maxon Agney – homes@higbiemaxon.com - we will try and feature the property.
* Photos courtesy of the Higbie Maxon Agney archives unless stated.
** Research, information, and data sources are deemed reliable, but accuracy cannot be fully guaranteed.
Written by Katie Doelle
Copyright © 2025 Higbie Maxon Agney & Katie Doelle
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