Last week we continued our exploration of Mid-Century Modern architecture as we presented some of the modern projects designed by James W. Conn. A fine example of his work is 781 Lake Shore, completed in 1964, for Dr. I. W. McLean.
This week we step back in time to one of the earliest homes built on Lake Shore – the Theodore Parsons Hall “Tonnancour” Estate - built in 1880, designed by Mortimer L. Smith. It was a significant estate for the emerging community of Grosse Pointe, and for Hall himself, a significant businessman in Detroit. Mr. Hall had retired early having made his fortune in the grain business and dedicated much of his time to the estate.
Research by renowned historian Thomas W. Brunk states “In 1880, Theodore Hall purchased 63 acres of land, which ran 2 ½ miles inland from Lake St. Clair. He set about building an elaborate estate called “Tonnancour”. This included an elegant summer home - a wooden Victorian Swiss Chalet style mansion and a boat house – both of which were designed by influential Detroit architect Mortimer L. Smith. The Victorian architectural style and elaborate summer residences were particularly popular in Grosse Pointe during this era, and many such homes were constructed on Lake Shore towards the end of the 19th century. Images courtesy of: digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org
It is understood “the family spent subsequent summers developing the estate. During the winter months, they resided in Detroit sometimes at the Hotel Cadillac or at their home on Jefferson Avenue.” As the years went by it is acknowledged the family spent winters in Florida or on the Pacific coast. Source: Thomas W. Brunk. Images courtesy of: “The Hall Family of Tonnancour” by Thomas W. Brunk.
In 1986, Theodore Hall’s older brother Charles described the estate
Here he [Hall] has laid out a beautiful park filled with fruits and flowers and every imaginable variety of shrubs and trees. In the midst of this paradise of his own creation stands his summer home, from which stretch vistas in every direction through the foliage, and before which is the broad expanse of the lake, with the tonnage of a continent passing in steady procession, the view intercepted only by the boat-house bedecked with streamers, and the grotto in which stands Ste. Claire gazing out over the waters. Source: Charles S. Hall. Hall Ancestry (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons).
The architect Mortimer L. Smith, born in Jamestown, NY in 1840, was a member of the Smith family “architectural dynasty”. Having arrived in Detroit in 1855, he trained under his father Sheldon Smith (from 1861 – 1868) who was the founder of the architectural firm that ultimately became known as Smith, Hinchman and Grylls. Sheldon Smith opened the firm in 1853, initially in Ohio before moving to Detroit in 1855. After Smith's death (in 1868), Mortimer worked under his own name for more than 20 years. He was then joined by his son Fred to form Mortimer L. Smith & Son. During his career Mortimer Smith worked on many prestigious commissions during the later part of the nineteenth century. Aside from the Hall residence his projects included
- A four-story hotel for Hiram Walker (in Ontario)
- A large mansion for Hiram Walker and his family (Windsor, Ontario)
- Woodward Avenue Baptist Church
- Detroit Opera House (first)
- The Home Savings Bank
- The Metropole Building
- William L. Barclay House (235 East Ferry Avenue)
Mortimer L. Smith passed on 19 January 1896 in Detroit. It is reported “following his passing, his son Fred continued with the firm which evolved into Smith, Hinchman & Grylls in 1907. Over the years it became one of the largest and most successful architectural firms in the American mid-west.” Source: dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org
The owner of “Tonnancour”, Theodore Parsons Hall, was born at Rocky Hill near Hartford, CT on 15 Dec 1835. He graduated from Yale in 1956, and began his career as an assistant manager of a newspaper before taking a position with the Central Bank of Brooklyn, New York. He was then employed by the Wall Street brokerage firm of Thompson Brothers. In the fall of 1958, the firm relocated Hall to Detroit where he would become a significant figure. Two years later, on 11 Jan 1860, he married Alexandrine Louise Godfroy and together they had ten children – seven daughters (Marie, Josephine, Nathalie, Corinne, Alexandrine, Marie Archange and Madeline), and two sons (Samuel and Godfroy) - one child died at birth. In 1963, having made a name for himself in the city, it is understood Mr. Hall entered the grain commission business for the Detroit Board of Trade. By 1968, he had established a grain shipping business with Rufus W. Gillett, named Gillet & Hall. Having completed his beautiful estate “Tonnancour’ in 1880, Theodore Hall retired from active business in 1888 to not only enjoy his summer home, but to “pursue his interests in literature, publishing, agriculture, and to travel.” Image source: findagrave.com
Theodore Parsons Hall died on January 3, 1909. His wife Alexandrine and her three surviving children (Josephine, Nathalie and Marie) continued to reside at “Tonnancour” for a further five years. Sadly in 1914, the house was severally damaged by fire and was demolished that year. Following the fire, it is understood Alexandrine moved to a residence in Detroit while her new home, 383 Lakeshore was completed. During this time the Hall estate was sub divided. A section of the land became part of the Country Club of Detroit’s golf course, while each of the three surviving children built homes on the lake front part of the property – Josephine Hall Irvine (403 Lakeshore – completed in 1915, now razed); Nathalie Hall Scott (moved into her mother’s home 383 Lakeshore, the original home is now razed), and Marie Hall Fuger (395 Lakeshore – completed in 1914, now 55 Tonnancour Place).
We will be continuing the Tonnancour story next week as we look at 55 Tonnancour Place.
* 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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