Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe

Last week we stopped by 900 Sunningdale. This 1930’s “modern family home”, completed in 1937, was a Detroit Free Press Home-of-the Week in March 1938. It was designed and built by F. F. Hannan, Inc. This week we look at an historic home with a bit of a mystery. 1004 Audubon in Grosse Pointe Park was completed in 1918, for Detroit judge P. J. M. Hally. The original address of the property was 16213 E. Jefferson; however, it appears the home underwent a change of address when part of the lot was sold in 1962. As for the mystery, well, that would be who designed it.

1004 Audubon is a classically designed brick built Georgian Colonial residence, originally located on 1.05 acres. The exterior of this symmetrical brick-built home features multiple double hung windows with a limestone lintel above each one. The main focal points of the front elevation are the central covered porch with its narrow columns, and the three dormers in the roof. The style of this home was incredibly popular in Grosse Pointe from 1910 through to 1930, and there are many fine examples of the Georgian Colonial style around the community.

The original owner of 1004 Audubon was Detroit Judge Patrick J. M. Hally who was born on August 22, 1867, on a farm situated in Wales Center, St. Clair County. The family, originally from Ireland, moved to Detroit, from St. Clair County, in 1872. In 1885, Patrick Hally attended Detroit College (now University of Detroit). At the age of 17 he went to Kalamazoo to teach at the St. Augustine parochial school, then returned to Detroit where he received his A. B. degree in 1888, as one of the first students to graduate from the newly named University of Detroit. He then went on to further his studies at the University of Michigan, graduating in 1891, and was admitted to the Michigan bar that same year. It is reported “Judge Hally was instrumental in ousting the Detroit United Railway from Fort Street and obtaining a court decision that the D.U.R. was only a tenant on the expiration of its franchise.” Source and image: Detroit Free Press, October 18, 1926.

During his career he was connected with the circuit court for many years and held many city and county political offices. He ultimately became one of the best-known jurists and lawyers in the state of Michigan. It was also reported his favorite legal subject was municipal law and that he was “an authority in this particular subject in both his private practice with the firm Donelly, Hally, Donelly, & Munro, and in his connection with the city where he handled all matters involving municipal law. He is remembered as a member of the Michigan constitutional convention, which met in 1907, to revise the state constitution.” Source: Detroit Free Press, October 18, 1926. Patrick Hally was married to Mary G. Hally and together they had four children. He passed away on October 17 in 1926, after an illness “extending over a period of 11 weeks.” Mary Hally, born in Detroit, aged 78, passed on January 18, 1948.

It is apparent their home, facing Jefferson on a large lot (with the address of 16213 E Jefferson) remained in the Hally family for a further 13 years after Mary Hally passed away. The Hally heirs originally listed the house for sale in June 1948, for $35,000 (around $444,000). We can confirm the property was still owned by members of the Hally family in 1961, when Mrs. Ione Hally was the registered owner. It was then listed for sale once again. Based on our records from 1961, the main floor had a 11’ x 26’ sq ft narrow hallway, a 14’ x 24’ sq ft living room (with fireplace), a 17’ x 14’ sq ft dining room, along with a screened and glassed-in 20’ x 11’ sq ft terrace/sunroom with a tile floor, located on the side of the home. The second floor had service stairs, three main bedrooms, plus a new 3 room suite (with a sitting room and fireplace; bathroom; and kitchen) that had never been lived in. On the third floor were three smaller bedrooms for maids, while the basement had a recreation room. The large sun-lit rooms on the main floor had 9.5 ft ceilings that were accented by elaborate crown moldings. At this point the property was listed for $47,500 (around $484,000) today). The photo below (taken in 1961) shows the expansive front lawn that faced E. Jefferson.

16213 E Jefferson left the Hally family when it was sold by the Maxon Brothers in August 1962. Presumably this was also the point when the lot was divided. With the driveway to the home exiting on Audubon this allowed the family to sell the front part of the lot as a separate piece of land – now the location of 1002 Audubon, built in 1964. The sale vastly reduced the size of the lot of 16213 E Jefferson to 173 x 155 feet, and the property recieved a new address – 1004 Audubon. Image courtesy of Google.com.

Between 1961 and 1975, 1004 Audubon underwent a dramatic change in appearance after it was painted grey. By April of 1975, the property was listed for sale for $76,000. It was then sold again in 1987, to the current owners Mr. and Mrs. Schiewes who have lovingly cared for the home for 36 years.

1004 Audubon is a home steeped in history. To complete its story, all that remains is to solve the mystery of the architect who created this classic Georgian Colonial home. If anyone has any information on the architect, we and Mr. and Mrs. Schiewes would love to hear from you.

*Photos courtesy of the Higbie Maxon Agney archives unless stated.
** Research, information, and data sources are deemed reliable, but accuracy cannot be fully guaranteed.

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