Real Estate Blog - Indiana Limestone

Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Defer Elementary School

Posted by Kay Agney on September 20th, 2022

Over the past couple of weeks, we have run a three-part series on the historic St. Paul’s Church complex. The series concluded with a review of the school and convent buildings, designed by Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls in September 1927. 

This week we stay with the theme of historic schools in Grosse Pointe as we visit Defer Elementary School - the oldest public-school building still in use in the Grosse Pointe Public School district. Defer was designed by renowned Detroit architect George J. Haas. Construction began in 1924, classes opened in February 1925. 

Defer Elementary School was originally built for Rural Agricultural School, District No. 1. It is located on the corner of Kercheval and Nottingham Road in Grosse Pointe Park. In 1921, Rural…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Indiana Limestone

Posted by Kay Agney on April 19th, 2022

Last week we explored 805 Trombley, a once superb limestone clad property that was located on the corner of Tombley and Essex Drive. It appears the property was completed in 1928, by the firm of C. E. Reichle Co. Designers & Builders, for Robert E. Farley, president of the Hillgartner natural stone company in Baltimore, Maryland. It was razed in 2008.

This week we are going to feature some of the other homes in Grosse Pointe that use Indiana Limestone as an integral part of the design, either as cladding or as trim. Limestone cladding - characterized by smooth, even faces and square edges, often several inches thick - was used to shape the aesthetic of a home. However, in many cases it was the trim, the intricate carved limestone details around the…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – 805 Trombley

Posted by Kay Agney on April 12th, 2022

Last week we explored a rather special home in Grosse Pointe Park – 813 Trombley, a grand Tudor style home completed by the firm of Roscoe W. Babcock, Inc. In 1928, the property was open for the public to tour, presented as “one of the finest and most complete homes ever produced in Metropolitan Detroit”. 

This week we stay on Trombley to explore 805 Trombley, a once superb limestone clad property that was located on the corner of Trombley and Essex Drive. It appears the property was completed in 1928, by the firm of C. E. Reichle Co. Designers & Builders, for Robert E. Farley, president of the Hillgartner natural stone company in Baltimore, Maryland. It appears Mr. Farley opened an office for the company in Detroit in 1920. The photo below is…

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