Real Estate Blog - Architecture of Grosse Pointe

Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe - Grosse Pointe Farms Sewage Pumping Station

Last week we concluded our series on Richard H. Marr, the “Architect of Midwest Millionaires” as we presented some of the residential projects he created in Grosse Pointe during the 1920’s and 1930’s.

This week we head to Grosse Pointe Farms to visit the city’s sewage pumping station, located at 305 Chalfonte. It was completed in 1929, having been designed by prominent Detroit architect, J. Ivan Dise and built by engineering firm Hubbell, Hartgering & Roth. Image courtesy of waymarking.com

The majority of Dise’s creations in Grosse Pointe occurred during the 1920’s and 30’s. Prior to designing The Village of Grosse Pointe Farms important new facility, Dise’s focus of attention in the community was primarily residential projects. His houses…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Richard H. Marr

Over the past couple of weeks, we have explored two of the homes designed by Richard H. Marr – 607 Lakepointe and 740 Whittier. The house on Whittier was one of Marr’s more distinguished projects, completed in 1933 for Detroit’s “Aluminum King” C. B. Bohn, president of Bohn Aluminum and Brass Corporation.

This week we conclude our series on Richard H. Marr, the “Architect of Midwest Millionaires” as we present some of his other projects, he created in Grosse Pointe during the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Richard Marr was born in Detroit in August 1886. After leaving to study architecture at Harvard, (graduating in 1911), Marr then spent two years working in Boston. In 1913, he returned to Detroit to work for renowned architect George D. Mason. Two years…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – 740 Whittier

Last week we were in Grosse Pointe Park to present the story of 607 Lakepointe, designed by Richard H. Marr in 1938 for Dr. J. Edgar Norris, chairman of Pathology and acting dean of the Wayne State University College of Medicine. 607 Lakepointe was featured in a 1938 edition of the Detroit Free Press as their ‘East Side Home of the Week’. The Detroit Free Press ‘East Side Home of the Week’ created ‘an opportunity to acquire many ideas which may be incorporated in homes large and small’.

This week we stay with the work of Richard H. Marr, as we explore one of his most distinguished projects, 740 Whittier, completed in 1933, for Detroit’s “Aluminum King” C. B. Bohn, president of Bohn Aluminum and Brass Corporation.

Richard H. Marr, known in the…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – 607 Lakepointe

Last week we stopped by the historic street of Washington to visit 512 Washington. This grand Georgian Colonial property was completed in 1920, by Harlow N. Davock for John E. King, owner of a large wholesale tea and coffee company.

This week we move to Grosse Pointe Park to present our first house on Lakepointe – welcome to number 607, designed by Richard H. Marr in 1938. The street of Lakepointe has many beautiful homes that were designed by some of Detroit’s most noted architects during the 1920’s and 1930’s. As with so much of Grosse Pointe Park this street features some uniquely styled homes that cover a broad spectrum of architectural styles.

607 Lakepointe was featured in a 1938 edition of the Detroit Free Press as their ‘East Side Home…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – 512 Washington

Last week we presented part 2 of our Oxford Road story with the many homes developed by realtor and developer Arthur J. Scully. During the late 1920’s Scully handled the development of multiple houses in this vicinity including 10 homes that were designed by prominent Detroit architect J. Ivan Dise. The Dise designed homes were located between Holiday Road and Mack Ave., part of the Oxford subdivision that fell under the name of “Eastmoreland”.

This week we head to the historic street of Washington to visit 512 Washington. This grand Georgian Colonial property was completed in 1920, by Harlow N. Davock for John E. King, owner of a large wholesale tea and coffee company. 

512 Washington was one of the five homes Harlow Davock completed as part of…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Oxford Road – Part 2.

Last week we presented a house listed on the National Register of Historic Places – 33 Oldbrook Lane, formerly known as “East Hall”. This incredible property was designed by George D. Mason in 1916-17, for John T. Woodhouse, one of Detroit’s leading tobacco merchants.

This week we return Oxford Road and the many homes developed by realtor and developer Arthur J. Scully. The development managed by Mr. Scully created the new Oxford subdivision during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. In our first blog post about Oxford Road, we explored two of the larger homes developed by Scully - number 30 and number 40, located in the first block off Lake Shore. Both homes were designed in 1930, by two of Metro Detroit’s finest architectural firms – Smith, Hinchman &…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 33 Oldbrook Lane.

Last week we explored the work of Walker and Weeks, an extremely prominent architectural firm in Cleveland with over 600 buildings to its name. In Grosse Pointe the firm completed just two residences in 1923 and 1935 – 1040 Devonshire and 717 Westchester. 

This week we head to a house listed on the National Register of Historic Places – welcome to 33 Oldbrook Lane, formerly known as “East Hall”. This incredible property was designed by George D. Mason in 1916-17, for John T. Woodhouse, one of Detroit’s leading tobacco merchants. The original address of the residence was 325 Lake Shore and prior to that it was 337 Lake Shore. We understand the change in the address from 337 to 325 occurred in the late 1930's.  The house also once had an…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Architects Frank R. Walker and Harry F. Weeks

Last week we presented 1100 Berkshire, the former residence of Leonard B. Willeke - noted Grosse Pointe architect. Leonard Willeke had a long association with Grosse Pointe, aside from the stunning home he created for himself he designed multiple residences throughout the community. He and his wife, Leona, resided in GP Park for over fifty years. 

This week we explore the work of a firm we haven’t covered before – welcome to the projects of Walker and Weeks, an extremely prominent architectural firm in Cleveland with over 600 buildings to its name. Here in Grosse Pointe the firm completed just two residences in 1923 and 1935.

1040 Devonshire
Walker and Weeks first project in Grosse Pointe was a remarkable 5,442 sq ft Italian Renaissance style…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 1100 Berkshire

Last week we presented two grande dames that exist on the first block of Oxford – number 30 and number 40. The two houses were developed by Arthur J. Scully. Both homes were designed in 1930, by two of Metro Detroit’s finest architectural firms – Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, and Herman & Simons.

This week we head to a very special home indeed – welcome to 1100 Berkshire, the former residence of Leonard B. Willeke - noted Grosse Pointe architect. Leonard Willeke had a long association with Grosse Pointe Park, aside from the many homes he designed throughout the community, he and his wife, Leona, resided in the city for over fifty years. 

Leonard B. Willeke was one of the most adaptable and prolific architects to work in the Detroit area. He was…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Oxford Road – Part 1

Last week we introduced you to 665 Lake Shore, a lost home that was located on the corner of Oxford Road and Lake Shore. The Regency Moderne style property was completed for prolific inventor, Robert Pauli Scherer, in 1951. It was designed by architect Hugh T. Keyes who considered the property to be one of his more significant works.

This week we turn our attention back to Oxford Road and two grande dames that exist on the first block – number 30 and number 40. Having recently featured their once close neighbor 22 Oxford Road (a property that was razed in 2006), we wanted to continue the story of this prestigious street. 

The origins of Oxford Road appear to date back to the ribbon farms of the 18th Century – the long narrow strips of land that…

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