Real Estate Blog - summer cottages

Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Grosse Pointe’s Summer Cottages.

Posted by Kay Agney on July 15th, 2025

Last week we concluded our series on the homes built by Joseph Berry. His grand estate of “Edgemere”, located at 50 Lake Shore was a Queen Anne style home completed in 1882. It was one of the first year-round homes to be constructed in Grosse Pointe and was razed in 1941.

This week we delve deeper into some of the majestic turn-of-the century Queen Anne style summer cottages in Grosse Pointe next to the lake. While the majority have been demolished there are still a few that can be found in the community.

The road we know as Lake Shore today was originally an early Indian trail. In 1851, the road became known as Jefferson Avenue, and in 1915, the section of Jefferson Avenue located in Grosse Pointe was officially named Lake Shore. It is…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe - The Early Summer Residences of Detroit’s Industrialists

Posted by Kay Agney on October 6th, 2020

Last week we presented the ‘Lake Terrace’ residences of John S. Newberry Sr. and Senator James McMillan. The two men were pivotal in the industrial growth of Detroit and inspiring the residential transformation of Grosse Pointe as an exclusive summer location for wealthy families from Detroit. 

This week we continue the story of the early summer homes built in Grosse Pointe with a review of the prominent industrialists who followed the example of John S. Newberry and James McMillan by having year-round homes on East Jefferson, and seasonal residences next to the lake in “The Pointe” as it was known 120 years ago. Source: Thomas A. Arbaugh, Tonnancour, Volume II.

The majority of these summer dwellings were built towards the end of the 19th…

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