Real Estate Blog - Robert O. Derrick

Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – The Grosse Pointe Club

Happy 2023!

In the last post of 2022, we presented 714 Grand Marais, one of the crown jewels of Grosse Pointe Park. The stunning Mediterranean style home on the shores of Lake St. Clair was designed by Robert O. Derrick in 1925.

For our first post in 2023, we continue with the work of Robert O. Derrick with one of his earliest projects in the community – the Grosse Pointe Club, affectionately known as the “Little Club.” The clubhouse officially opened in January 1927, at 6 Berkshire Place on the shores of Lake St. Clair.

Grosse Pointe has always had an array of private clubs, the earliest dates to 1886 when the original Country Club of Detroit was completed. The club hired architect William E. Brown to design a clubhouse, to be situated on…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – 714 Grand Marais

Last week we concluded our series on the Detroit Free Press Home-of the-Week recipients, 390 Merriweather was awarded the converted title in November 1938. The property is a splendid Cape Cod designed and built by Walter H. Mast. The "model home" was held open to the public, in November 1938, for one day only - the total number of visitors for the day was approximately four thousand!

This week to round off the year we head to one of the crown jewels of Grosse Pointe Park, 714 Grand Marais, designed by Robert O. Derrick in 1925. The Mediterranean style home on the shores of Lake St. Clair is one of sheer beauty.

714 Grand Marais is situated on a 0.77-acre lot with 175’ lake frontage. The house is currently 12,032 sq ft however, it appears prior…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Père Gabriel Richard Elementary School

Last week we visited 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. 

This week we stay with the historic schools of Grosse Pointe as we explore Père Gabriel Richard Elementary School, designed by prominent local architect Robert O. Derrick. Completed in 1930, it is one of three schools Robert O. Derrick designed for the Grosse Pointe Public School system. The school is located at 176 McKinley in Grosse Pointe Farms, close to The Hill. When it was completed, it was the second elementary school in Grosse Pointe Farms. Image courtesy of: Wikipedia.

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 211 Vendome

Last week we headed to arguably one of the most prestigious streets in Grosse Pointe - Provencal - to review an impressive Georgian residence, 34 Provencal, completed in 1912, by architectural legend Louis Kamper for John Scripps Sweeney Sr. 

This week we head to another iconic Georgian residence, the majestic 211 Vendome, designed by Robert O. Derrick in 1929, for Franklin Caldwell Walker, grandson of whiskey baron Hiram Walker. The 18,158 sq ft property is set on two and a half acres and is possibly one of the finest homes in Grosse Pointe.

211 Vendome is a classically styled Georgian home with all the many traits one would associate with this style of residence built in the 1920’s. Grosse Pointe Farms, during the 1920’s, was a time of change,…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – The Punch and Judy Theater

Last week we presented the story of 1009 Harvard in Grosse Pointe. The 2,993 sq ft brick French Colonial property was designed by prolific architect Carl R. Habermas and built by noted builder, R. C. Ranke. It was completed in 1940. Despite being built over 80 years ago the house, to date, has only had two owners.

This week we return to the Hill to continue our story of this historic commercial district. Over the past couple of weeks, we have explored the history of the Hill along with The Bronze Door restaurant. Now it’s time to look at where it all began with the Punch and Judy Theater. The theater, located at 17 Kercheval Avenue, opened in January 1930, to much fanfare. The opening not only marked the beginning of the theater, but of the Hill…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to Beverly Road – Part 3

Last week, in part 2, we explored residences on the east side of Beverly Road - the even numbered homes: 24 through 44 - the first lots to be sold and developed. 

This week, in the final part of our series on Beverly Road, we head to the residences on the west side of the street - the odd numbered homes: 23 through 45 - built between 1920 and 1936. The modern photo’s below are courtesy of: Katie Doelle. 

23 Beverly Road - completed in 1925
Renowned local architect Robert O. Derrick designed this substantial asymmetrical Neo-Georgian residence. The distinctive dormers in the roof dominate the front elevation of this 5,830 sq ft home. The property was constructed for Edwin Barbour Henry and his wife, Barbara Wick, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Henry…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe - Hugh T. Keyes Projects on Woodland Place

Last week we continued the story of Cox & Baker with a review of Crescent Lane – the quiet street filled with many mid-century modern Cox & Baker homes - built from the mid 1950’s to the early 1960’s. 

This week we explore the work of Hugh T. Keyes on Woodland Place. Woodland Place, once a heavily wooded area on the shores of Lake St. Clair, is a narrow street, paved with bricks. It is home to eight unique residences. The majority of the homes were designed and completed during the 1920’s by a handful of noted architects – William B. Stratton, Hugh T. Keyes, and Robert O. Derrick. Keyes not only designed one home, 5 Woodland Place, he was also hired to transform two existing older residences – 7 Woodland Place and 2 Woodland Place - to make them…

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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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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – The Residences of Edwin Hewitt Brown – Part 2

Last week we introduced you to 300 Lincoln, one of the magnificent homes in Grosse Pointe that was once owned by Mr. Edwin Hewitt Brown, and his wife Olive, a prominent family in the community. 

This week we continue with the story of the Brown family and the two other residences they resided at – 4 Lake Court (built 1926) and 380 Neff Road (built 1928). 

Having commissioned George W. Graves, in 1915, to create an impactful home at 300 Lincoln it appears Edwin H. Brown set upon a new residential project in Grosse Pointe, close to the shores of Lake St. Clair – 4 Lake Court. Having already worked with a high caliber architect Brown turned to another stellar designer, one of Grosse Pointe’s finest, Robert O. Derrick. 

Much of O. Derrick’s work…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 187 Irvine Lane

Last week we introduced you to 17620 E. Jefferson, the former home of nationally recognized architect Frank C. Baldwin, built in 1907. In 1911 Dr. Fred T. Murphy purchased the house, and subsequently hired influential Grosse Pointe architect Robert O. Derrick to make extensive alterations, adding a large two-storied library to the property.

This week we stay with Robert O. Derrick’s work and visit the home he designed for Sidney T. Miller Jr., in 1949, 187 Irvine Lane.

Sidney T. Miller Jr. was a prominent attorney in Detroit. A Harvard Law School graduate he was the third member of the Miller family to work for the prestigious firm of Miller Canfield. Having joined as an associate in 1921 he made partner in 1923. The firms name was then…

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