Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Eleanor Ford’s Christmas Decorations

Last week we visited 35 McKinley Place, a stately home completed by the renowned architects Chittenden and Kotting in 1909, for Detroit millionaire and philanthropist David Gray.

This week, its Christmas Eve so we thought it would be fun to bring you a festive themed post as we explore Eleanor Ford’s Christmas decorations at her grand home at Gaukler Pointe.

In December 1929, Edsel and Eleanor Ford moved into their magnificent estate at 1100 Lake Shore Drive, designed by Albert Kahn. Construction of the sixty-room house began in 1926 and took three years to complete – one year for the house, and two years to custom fit the numerous antique interior elements the Ford’s had sourced from all over the world. They had hired the best designer’s money could buy to design every element of the home, including the grounds. In the proceeding years the Ford House became known for its lavish Christmas decorations and festive parties.

Before we begin let’s travel back to 1901 when Edsel Ford was a boy. It was reported on Christmas Eve 1901, an 8-year-old Edsel wrote a handwritten letter to Santa asking for a pair of roller skates, a book, and a tree. The letter stated, “I haven’t had a Christmas tree in 4 years, I have broken all my trimmings, and I want some more.” It was acknowledged that while his father Henry Ford, wasn’t broke, every spare penny that he had at the beginning of the twentieth century was devoted to making engines. Source: Detroit Free Press (November 1996).

Fast forward to Edsel’s grand home on Gaukler Pointe and it is acknowledged Christmas remained a huge affair for Edsel, his wife Eleanor and their four children – Henry II, Benson, Josephine, and William Clay. Photo courtesy of Katie Doelle.

Following the death of Edsel (on May 26, 1943), Eleanor began to establish many festive traditions for her and the family. Each year, with her renowned “one-of-a-kind touches”, the house was filled with decorations and several Christmas trees, all of which were beautifully decorated. It was a season filled with tradition, elegance, and a touch of class. Photos courtesy of Katie Doelle.

An article in the Detroit Free Press (December 1989) explained “in the late 1940’s Eleanor opted for some very artistic Christmas decorations. She had artists print special wrapping paper and commissioned one-of-a-kind ornaments created by Detroit designer Lillian Pierce, then head of color and design at the Society for Arts and Crafts (now the Center for Creative Studies). Mrs. Ford wanted something that wasn’t available on the commercial market, so she asked Ms. Peirce to design long glass ornaments of pink, purple and brown, then arranged to have them hand blown. Ms. Pierce’s color chips and drawings were sent to the Ford Rouge plant where glass blowers created the ornaments. Upon completion they were placed on Mrs. Ford’s flocked white tree, along with white lights, in the great hall. That year Lillian Pierce also designed the décor for a lavish party where over 150 people were invited. In an interview many years later Ms. Peirce said, “Mrs. Ford thought she would like to have a more contemporary design that Christmas. The pink and white fantasy I created for that party then stayed on for many years in a down-scaled version for Eleanor Ford’s Christmas decorations.” Source: Detroit Free Press (December 1989). Photo courtesy of Katie Doelle

Further traditions kept by Mrs. Ford were to fill the home with Poinsettias (including in some of the staff rooms), while she always preferred a wreath of fresh flowers to “gaudier decorations”. It was also reported “Eleanor always left one room, the elegant gold and white drawing room, free of Christmas decorations.” She explained “I sit in here when I want to rest my eyes.” Another room with minimal decoration was the dining room. It is understood “the only illumination allowed in the room, where the family would eat their holiday dinner at about 5pm, was sunlight reflecting off the lake during the day, with candles at night.” Photos courtesy of Katie Doelle

Christmas at the home of Eleanor Ford was “a command performance for the children and grandchildren.” The effort and detail by Mrs. Ford to celebrate the holiday season were widely known, including the small details she insisted upon for her larger winter parties, which included “hiring a tow truck to stand by on the grounds in case anybody’s car didn’t start.” Source: Detroit Free Press (December 1989).

Today, the wonderful team at Ford House continue the tradition, decorating the house with the same style and elegance, as Eleanor Ford did all those years ago.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you Happy Holidays and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.

* 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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