Real Estate Blog - Louis Kamper

Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to Rathbone Place

Last week we explored the history of 4 Rathbone Place, a stunning Colonial Revival home completed in 1916-17 for Samuel T. Douglas, a senior member of one of the oldest law firms in Detroit, Douglas and Bowen. It was designed by the renowned duo of Chittenden and Kotting.

This week we stay on Rathbone Place to present the full story of this historic street that has some of the finest one-of-a-kind residences in Grosse Pointe dating back to the beginning of the Twentieth century. One of the earliest inhabitants on the street was Charles A. Rathbone, president of the Buhl Malleable Company. His father, William P. Rathbone, was one of the most prominent and successful real estate men in the state of Michigan during the nineteenth century. It is also…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe –251 Lincoln Road

Last week explored another property by Louis Kamper as we traveled to Washington Road to visit an historic home located at the foot of the street - 285 Washington, completed in 1912, for James L. Lee.

This week we stay with the work of Louis Kamper, to feature another superb property from his Italian Renaissance period, to bring you the story of 251 Lincoln Rd. As we mentioned last week some of Kamper’s work, during the early twentieth century, was heavily influenced by Italian Renaissance architecture, he created at least three significant properties in Grosse Pointe in this style – 285 Washington (1912), 1 Rathbone Place (1917) and 251 Lincoln (1918).

251 Lincoln, “Edgeroad” (the original address was 17743 E. Jefferson) was completed in 1918,…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – 285 Washington Road

Last week we explored 50 Moross. The property was designed for William E. Moran, in 1914, by Louis Kamper - one of the most noted architects to grace Metro Detroit. 

This week we head to another property by Kamper as we travel to Washington Road to visit an historic home located at the foot of the street - welcome to 285 Washington.

The address of this property was originally listed as 4455 E. Jefferson, it was then changed to 17631 E. Jefferson, and finally to 285 Washington. The residence is immense in size and stature and once presented an impressive entrance to one of the most prominent streets in the community. Image courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University (1933).

The 7,629…

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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 the Lost Estate, 10 Moross

Last week we explored 130 Kenwood, completed in 1926. J. Ivan Dise designed the English Tudor style home for Luther David Thomas. It is one of the larger Dise homes in Grosse Pointe.

This week we head to a lost estate, 10 Moross – on the corner of Moross and Lake Shore. It is believed this once grand home was designed in the early 20th century (around 1905) by Louis Kamper and razed in 1968.

Born in Bavaria, Germany in 1861, Louis Kamper emigrated to the U.S with his family in 1880. He arrived in Detroit in 1888, and quickly established himself on the architectural scene, joining the firm of Scott & Scott, becoming partner within a year. The majority of Kamper’s career focused largely on two areas — designing magnificent residences for the…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 12 Rathbone Place

Last week we presented another majestic home designed by Raymond Carey – 338 Provencal. The 10,304 sq ft English Tudor Manor was completed in 1928, for Howard F. Smith, VP of the Canada and Dominion Sugar Company in Ontario.

This week we head to a splendid property, 12 Rathbone Place (original address 17400 E. Jefferson). Alpheus Chittenden completed the English Manor home in 1909, for John Gaine Rumney and his wife Mary Elizabeth (Pittman).

John G. Rumney, a prominent Detroiter, was born in Detroit, 1850. He began his career as a salesman for Ducharme, Fletcher & Company - dealers in wholesale hardware. He then took the position of treasurer at the Hart Manufacturing Company, a position he held for eight years. In 1888, he relocated to Helena,…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 195 Lake Shore, The Hugo Scherer Mansion

Last week we explored one of the most recognizable homes on Lake Shore, number 699, previously known as Shadowlawn. It was designed by Maul & Lentz for Raphael Edward “Ray” Danaher, and completed in 1924. 

This week we would like to present 195 Lake Shore, built in 1898 for Hugo Scherer, his wife Clara, and their two daughters Marion, and Dorothy. Louis Kamper designed, what was originally, a spectacular summer residence. Located on Lake Shore Dr, at Moran Road, it was constructed during an era when rich Detroit families came to Grosse Pointe to spend the summer months close to the lake.

This was arguably one of Louis Kamper’s earliest projects in the Grosse Pointe communities. Prior to this Hugo Scherer had already hired Kamper to design his…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 1 Rathbone Place

Last week we explored another of Grosse Pointes lost estates, 735 Lake Shore, a grand Tudor mansion designed by Albert Kahn for Alvan Macauley, in 1930, which was demolished in 1974.

This week we travel to 1 Rathbone Place. Sitting on close to 1 acre of land, running from Jefferson to the lake, this beautiful home was designed by famed Detroit architect, Louis Kamper, between 1917-1918, for John G. Rumney. Image courtesy of Grosse Pointe Historical Society.

1 Rathbone Place, an Italian Villa, is a particularly striking home. The three magnificent archways dominate the front elevation, as does the low sloping tiled roof, and the large overhanging eaves. As you would expect with any creation by Kamper the 6,805 sq ft home is filled with superb…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 16761 E. Jefferson

Having featured the superb work of Clarence E. Day last week, we now turn our attention to a rather prominent home of Jefferson – welcome to “Lawn Leighton” also known as 16761 E.Jefferson.

This magnificent mansion was designed by one of Detroit’s finest architects, Louis Kamper, and was built between 1916-17. Christian Henry Haberkorn, Jr., a prominent banker in Detroit, commissioned it. Mr. Haberkorn was the son of C. H. Haberkorn, Sr., and Fances H. Ruehle, whose family had been prominent in Detroit for four generations. Born in Detroit, 1889, he graduated from Harvard in 1912 with a degree in Economics. Shortly after leaving Harvard Mr. Haberkorn began his career with C. H. Haberkorn & Co., manufacturers of furniture, where he held the title of…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – 175 Merriweather Road

Last week we profiled 21 Colonial Rd, the magnificent former home of nationally recognized architectural sculptor Corrado Parducci. This week we head to Grosse Pointe Farms, and to one of the earliest homes built on Merriweather, number 175. 

Merriweather was originally part of a large cherry orchard. It wasn’t until the late 1920’s that houses first began to appear on the plot of land. 

Number 175 was one of the earlier homes to be constructed. Designed by acclaimed architect Louis Kamper, it was completed in 1929 as a wedding present, from Kamper and Kurt Kling, to the newly married couple of John Robert Sutton, Jr. (Jack), and his wife Paula Kling Sutton (Kamper’s niece, and Kurt Kling’s daughter).

Louis Kamper, could be described as one…

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