Real Estate Blog - Higbie Maxon Agney

Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to The Work of H. Sanborn Brown

Last week we presented Ellair Place and some of the homes that exist on the picturesque dead end street by the lake. Ellair Place has possibly one of the longest periods of time, 102 years, from when the first home was constructed (in 1895) through to the last addition (in 1997), of any street in Grosse Pointe.

This week we are going to explore the work of H. Sanborn Brown, an architect we have never covered before. He created at least six homes in Grosse Pointe, including three properties on Touraine.

H. Sanborn Brown’s first project in the community was 577 Washington, completed in 1935 for Dr. C. N. Skau. The charming four-bedroom home was built in the Georgian Colonial style. S.C Hadley, who owned the Hadley Construction Company, built it. 

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to Ellair Place

Last week we explored 855 Ellair Place, a mid century modern home completed in 1951 by George Bickford Brigham, Jr. for William Harris.

This week we stay on Ellair, to present some of the other homes that exist on this picturesque dead end street by the lake. The houses on Ellair Place cover a broad spectrum of architectural styles, ranging from English manor, Cape Cod, Colonial through to midcentury modern. The homes were constructed over a period of two centuries. Noted architects, including; Smith, Hinchman and Grllys, and George Bickford Brigham, Jr. created them for some rather prominent families. 

Ellair Place is located between Edgmont Park and Bishop Road. There are currently ten houses on the street, however, this wasn’t always the…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 855 Ellair Place

Last week we presented 824 Lake Shore, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Estate. Set on 4.3 acres with approximately 445’ of water frontage the property features a 5,490 square foot midcentury modern main house, a charming guest cottage (created as an artist studio, in 1966), and a white clapboard farmhouse.

This week we head to 855 Ellair Place – a mid century modern home completed in 1951 by George Bickford Brigham, Jr. for William Harris.

George B. Brigham, Jr. has been called Ann Arbor’s “first modern architect”. He created at least 40 modern style homes in the city, and was nationally recognized as an early pioneer in the use of pre-fabricated materials in residential architecture. Source: www.a2modern.org. His work in Grosse Pointe however, appears…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 824 Lake Shore, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Estate

Last week we featured the work of J. Robert F. Swanson who was involved in creating at least four homes in Grosse Pointe – including 21 Colonial Road, and 203 Cloverly.

This week we would like to present 824 Lake Shore, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Estate. Set on 4.3 acres with approximately 445’ of water frontage the property features a 5,490 square foot midcentury modern main house, a charming guest cottage (created as an artist studio, in 1966), and a white clapboard farmhouse.

The entire parcel encompasses three pieces of land  - the first was once the location of 820 Lake Shore - a midcentury modern home (that has subsequently been razed), the second is the main house, 824 Lake Shore, while the third was once the location of 830 Lake…

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2019 Annual Report – Grosse Pointe Real Estate

Higbie Maxon Agney is pleased to offer its 2019 Grosse Pointe Real Estate Annual Report. Within this report you will find information on average sale prices, sales volume, real estate trends, and much more.

Our goal is to give you an accurate and complete picture of the 2019 Grosse Pointe housing market. All of the graphs were produced internally for Higbie Maxon Agney using MiRealSource multiple listing service. We are confident that these are the best statistics currently available on the Grosse Pointe housing market, and we hope that you will find the contents of this report readable and useful. Over the coming months we will use this information to help our clients make informed, educated real estate decisions. 

2019 was an extremely…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – The Work of J. Robert F. Swanson

Last week we featured 16500 E. Jefferson, the former home of Louis Mendelssohn’s youngest daughter, Lydia. The property was razed in 1996, and the land subdivided. 

This week we are going to feature the work of J. Robert F. Swanson. This talented architect was also linked to the Mendelssohn family having designed the home of Gordon Mendelssohn, Lydia’s brother. 

J. Robert F. Swanson was involved in creating at least four homes in Grosse Pointe –

• 21 Colonial Road, (1929)
• 677 Middlesex (1937)
• 280 Vendome Ct (1937)
• 203 Cloverly – in conjunction with Eliel and Eero Saarinen (1939) 

J. Robert F. Swanson was born in Menominee, Michigan, in 1900. His parents, both of who were natives of Sweden, relocated the family to Grand Rapids, and…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 16500 E. Jefferson

Last week we introduced you to another lost mansion, the original 1000 Lake Shore, former grand home of Louis Mendelssohn, and his wife Evelyn. 

This week we are going to continue to the story of the Mendelssohn family as we introduce 16500 E. Jefferson, the home of Louis Mendelssohn’s youngest daughter, Lydia, born in 1906. 

In 1929 Ms. Medelssohn married Christian Henry Buhl, II.  That same year the couple purchased the home of Ross W. Judson on Ellair Place, Grosse Pointe Park. Mr. Judson, the founder of Continental Motor Company, had recently moved from Ellair to 15324 Windmill Pointe, named Kasteel Batavia, which was designed by noted architect Wallace Frost. 

The Buhl-Mendellsohn house on Ellair place was set on six acres between…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 1000 Lake Shore

Last week we presented 37 Edgemere, a mid-century property, completed, in 1951, by Carl R. Habermas for Mr. and Mrs. M. Rivard Klippel. 

This week we are going to introduce you to another lost mansion, the original 1000 Lake Shore, former grand home of Louis Mendelssohn, and his wife Evelyn.

Louis Mendelssohn was a prominent figure in Detroit. He was born in Kempen, Germany, in 1853. His parents then moved to Detroit, in 1855. Having graduated high school he began working for the architectural firm of Sheldon and Mortimer L. Smith, and later as manufacturing draftsman in the car and locomotive department of the Michigan Central Railroad. Several years later he formed a partnership with Mortimer L. Smith, and together they worked on numerous…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 37 Edgemere

Happy 2020! 

In our last post we presented 110 Cloverly, completed by Robert O. Derrick, in 1924, for Phelps Newberry, a member of the esteemed Newberry family.

This week we leave behind the grand Tudor homes of the 1920’s and head to a mid-century property, 37 Edgemere, completed, in 1951, by Carl R. Habermas for Mr. and Mrs. M. Rivard Klippel.

Very little is known about Carl R. Habermas or his career. We do know he created several homes in Grosse Pointe from the 1930’s through to the 1960’s, covering a broad architectural spectrum - Tudor, Colonial, Regency, Art Deco, and Mid-Century Modern styles. It also appears, at some point in his career, he was closely associated with noted architect J. H. Steffens. His projects in Grosse Pointe…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 110 Cloverly

Last week we explored 17845 E. Jefferson (now 25 Fisher Road), the beautifully designed International style home completed, in 1937, by Hugh T. Keyes, for Herbert B. Trix.

This week we head to a property on one of the most distinguished streets in Grosse Pointe Farms, 110 Cloverly. Robert O. Derrick completed the majestic Tudor mansion, in 1924, for Phelps Newberry, a member of the esteemed Newberry family.

The Newberry family owned numerous properties in the Grosse Pointes. Phelps Newberry’s grandfather, prominent local political figure John Stoughton Newberry, resided at “Lake Terrace”, 99 Lake Shore Drive (now demolished). During the latter part of the 19th century John Stoughton Newberry, along with his business partner James H. McMillan,…

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