Happy 2026!
In our last post of 2025, we presented the history of the “Christmas Walk.” Beginning in 1960, it became an annual event that opened some wonderfully decorated homes to the public in Grosse Pointe and Bloomfield-Hills to benefit the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. It was incredibly popular and ran until the late 1970's.
For our first post of the new year, we are going to visit a magnificent home in Grosse Pointe Farms – 109 Kenwood. Completed in 1929, it was designed by the “Dean of Detroit Architects”, Geroge D. Mason for Lynn McNaughton, vice president in charge of sales at Cadillac.
109 Kenwood is a 10,518 sq ft residence, and arguably one of the grandest homes in Grosse Pointe Farms. It was one of the largest homes George Mason designed in Grosse Pointe, and one of the later projects he worked on as he neared the end of his illustrious career. Color image courtesy of GoogleEarth.
The English Tudor style two-story home is constructed from stone, has a slate roof and is set on a large lot with beautifully landscaped grounds. As you can see from these sketches (courtesy of the Burton Historical Collection), the final design of the home varied slightly from the initial concepts.
While the exterior was created in the English Tudor style it is apparent some of the décor was inspired by the French. From a detailed description from the National Bank of Detroit (in 1976) we understand the main hall was paneled with rare antique French scenic wallpaper “The Ports of France” that was printed around 1820 from woodblocks - it is not clear if the wallpaper was put in place when the house was built or was part of the renovations that were undertaken in 1949. The second floor also features a French import – an oval room with a small stone fireplace, and a bar with running water and a refrigerator.
Aside from the French influence the home also had an abundance of highly decorative details, and as you would expect from a home of this grandeur, superb craftsmanship throughout. The first floor includes a parquet-floor in the hall, while the living room had a large fireplace with an antique carved pine mantel. The living room also provides access to the slate terrace, with a perfect view of the four fountains, located in the corners. The dining room also had a fireplace with a craved pine mantel, a rear bay window, and an impressive crystal chandelier. Also on the main floor was a paneled library, a morning room with a fireplace, butler’s pantry, kitchen, a maid’s dining room along with a rear porch and a flower room. The second floor is just as impressive - the master suite had a bedroom, dressing room, and a superb fireplace with an antique pine mantel along with a marble bathtub in the bathroom. An antique paneled library was also on the second floor along with four bedrooms, three bedrooms for maids along with a further bedroom and bathroom, which was built over the five-car attached garage. There was more parquet flooring in the basement that once had a walk-in vault, a large recreation room along with a fully equipped kitchen. The house also had a modern three-floor elevator, complete with a phone that was installed at some point during the home’s history.
There have been several prominent owners throughout the property’s history including Lynn McNaughton, Benson Ford Jr. (Mr. McNaughton’s son-in-law), E. J. Stroble, and Detroit Tiger Cecil Fielder. Under the ownership of Mr. Stroble, the property was part of “Christmas Walk” in December 1977. It is understood 109 Kenwood has undergone several major transformations over the years.
The original owner, Lynn McNaughton was vice president in charge of sales at Cadillac and a member of the board of directors. Born on 17 May 1882, in St. Clair, he moved with his family to Detroit when he was five years old. He graduated from high school and worked for two and a half years as a designer and engineer with the Detroit Ship Building Company and the Commercial National Bank. In 1905, he began working for Cadillac as a clerk and then went on to become the manager of the parts division. It was reported Mr. McNaughton was one of the first salesmen of the self-starter – at the time Cadillac was the pioneer of the self-starting automobile. During this period Mr. McNaughton was “famed as a sales dynamo of the Cadillac division of General Motors during the Twenties.” Source: The New York Times (February 1950). In 1911, he married Uarda Ashmore and they had three children a son and two daughters. He passed on February 8, 1950.
In 1995, while undergoing extensive renovations’ 109 Kenwood was damaged by fire. It was rebuilt by Allan & Lux, Inc and was lovingly restored, featuring many aspects of the original design as close to Mason’s original specifications as it was possible.
Today, 109 Kenwood is a fine estate. From the day the initial sketches were created the house had the potential to be one of the finest homes in Grosse Pointe - thanks to the architect, George D. Mason, and its many prominent owner(s) that initial potential has been fulfilled.
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 © 2026 Higbie Maxon Agney & Katie Doelle
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