Real Estate Blog - D. Allen Wright

Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – 166 Ridge Road

Last week we reviewed the work D. Allen Wright, from 1930 onwards. It was during this phase of his career that he transitioned from creating his French inspired homes of the late 1920’s, into a designer that focused on modern International style residences and a series of state of the art houses.

This week we conclude our presentation on D. Allen Wright as we visit what is arguably his most prominent creation in Grosse Pointe, 166 Ridge Road - a stunning French inspired property he completed in 1927, for Charles F. Lambert, president of the Clayton & Lambert Manufacturing Company.

Running through the heart of Grosse Pointe Farms is Ridge Road, one of the communities most historic streets. Based on research by the Grosse Pointe Historical…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Architect D. Allen Wright – Part 2

Last week we began a two-part series on the work of D. Allen Wright, one of the most versatile designers to work in Grosse Pointe. He designed close to 30 homes in the community including some of the finest examples of French inspired residences in the area.

This week we continue the story of David Allen Wright with some of the projects he completed post 1930. It was during this phase of his career that he transitioned from creating his French inspired homes of the late 1920’s, into a designer that focused on more modern style residences that were growing in popularity across the United States, including several state of the art homes.

During the 1930’s Wright’s approach began to change considerably. Many of the homes he was designing were…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Architect D. Allen Wright – Part 1

Last week we explored 20 Village Lane, an exquisite home designed by D. Allen Wright in 1927, for Harold B. Tyree, a veteran of World War I and vice president of Detroit Edison.

This week we stay with the work of D. Allen Wright as we begin a two-part presentation featuring many of the homes he designed in Grosse Pointe. It appears he designed close to 30 homes in the community. In part one we are going to focus on his French inspired period: 1926 – 1930.

David Allen Wright was born on July 19, 1886, in Springfield Township, Michigan. During his career he became a noted designer, both locally and nationally. Between 1926 and 1930, many of his creations appear to be large French inspired homes, typically in the Normandy and Provencal style –…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – 20 Village Lane

Last week we visited Kenwood Road, Grosse Pointe Farms, to explore a fine selection of beautifully crafted houses that were created by some of the leading architects of the early 20th century.

Two of the homes we featured were designed by D. Allen Wright. So, this week we are going to look at another of Wright’s creations, 20 Village Lane (formerly 16910 Village Lane) in Grosse Pointe. Completed in 1927, it was designed for Harold B. Tyree, vice president of Detroit Edison.

20 Village Lane was featured in Architectural Forum magazine (October 1935) and the Book of Small Houses (1936). It is a uniquely styled English Cotswold home. At just over 2,000 sq ft the asymmetrical house is bigger than it looks and is perfectly formed. The article in the…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Lewiston Road – Part 1

Last week we went to Grosse Pointe City to explore the picturesque street of Village Lane, located between Cadieux and Notre Dame. The historic properties, completed before 1930, provide an eclectic mix of architectural styles from traditional Clapboard Colonial though to an English cottage style residence.

This week we turn our attention to a rather prominent road in Grosse Pointe Farms, Lewiston, in part one of a two-part series. During the first half of the 20th century, an era of substantial residential growth in Grosse Pointe Farms, Lewiston Road became the location of multiple impactful homes that were created by some of Detroit’s most distinguished architects. In part one, we will take a look at the first block, located between Grosse Pointe…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to Village Lane

Last week we presented 35 Fisher Road. Completed in 1909, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, 35 Fisher Road started out as Grosse Pointe’s first telephone exchange for the Home Telephone Company. After serving the community for around eight years it is now a stunning historic home.

This week we stay in Grosse Pointe City and head to the picturesque street of Village Lane, located between Cadieux and Notre Dame. The properties on Village Lane were created in two different eras - the even numbered historic homes completed during the 1920’s, and the odd numbered modern Colonial homes built in the late 1940’s. It is the history of the earlier properties that we will be focusing on.

The historic homes on Village Lane have double digit numbers today,…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 78 Kenwood

Last week explored one of Minoru Yamasaki’s residential projects in greater depth – 664 Shoreham Road, Grosse Pointe Woods.

This week we head to 78 Kenwood Road – arguably one of the finest examples of an English Cotswold inspired home in Grosse Pointe Farms. Hugh T. Keyes completed it for Edward Macauley, in 1928. 

Edward Macauley was the son of Alvan Macauley, president of Packard Motor Car Co. and president of the Automobile Manufacturers Association. Alvan Macauley was also responsible for many outstanding achievements such as the first diesel engine to lift a plane from the ground, piloted by Charles A. Lindbergh. Source: history-computer.com/. Alvan Macauley had three children, Alvan Macauley Jr. (1896-1982), Edward (1902-1957) and…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to Kenwood Road – the Designers’ Collection: Part 2

After recently profiling the first block of Kenwood Road – ‘the Designers’ Collection: Part 1’ – we continue with our exploration of this roads stunning homes. Having presented the French inspired residences designed by Raymond Carey – numbers 51 and 100 – we continue this trend with a look at the work of D. Allen Wright.

D. Allen Wright. D. Allen Wright was a talented designer; he created the Headmaster’s House at Cranbrook School (in 1930), two homes on Kenwood long with two French Inspired homes on Cloverly Road. His creations on Kenwood are once again excellent examples of the French Provincial approach. House number 79 (completed in 1925) is particularly noticeable and typifies the qualities associated with this architectural style that were…

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