The first block of Bishop Road (between Jefferson and Maumee) reads like a who’s who of prominent families and architects from the 1920’s. This block has such prominence this will be a two part series. Built for high-flying executives looking to relocate their families to Grosse Pointe, the requirement(s) for grand homes close to Lake St. […]
With a sublime view of Lake St. Clair, 3 Cameron Place, aka the Frank and Anne Parcells House, is a rarity in Grosse Pointe. Not only does it break the mould of the traditional Colonial and Tudor residences found in the Pointes, it is the only home in the State of Michigan to be designed […]
Having covered the work of George J. Haas at Defer Elementary School, we continue with his next project – Grosse Pointe South High School. The early 1920’s in Grosse Pointe were boom time. The area was rapidly expanding and the school district was undergoing a dramatic transformation to accommodate the growing population. Having just completed […]
We may be surrounded by a wealth of stunning residential architecture, however lets not forget the many wonderful municipal buildings that are located around Grosse Pointe. Buildings that have not only earned recognition from an architectural sense, but buildings that have been designed by some of the leading architects in their field – magnificent churches, […]
Charles A. Platt, renowned artist, landscape gardener, landscape designer and architect. He designed several buildings in the Detroit area, including at least 5 in Grosse Pointe. While he may not have been the most prolific architect in the community, his work here proved to be of huge significance. Platt was born in New York City […]
Having recently covered the history of St. Paul’s Church, we couldn’t ignore the superb colonial building directly adjacent, the Grosse Pointe Academy, formally known as the Academy of the Sacred Heart. The origins of the land on which the Grosse Pointe Academy now sits dates back to before 1813, when the plot existed as five […]
We conclude our series on the gothic churches of Grosse Pointe Farms, with a visit to St Paul’s. Having previously visited Christ Church and Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, Grosse Pointe Farms has a superb collection of gothic liturgical structures. The St. Paul’s Church complex is located at 157 Lake Shore Road, and was the first […]
Three buildings, two sites, ten names and thirteen full-time ministers Grosse Pointe Memorial Church has been pretty busy since its first building was completed in 1867. The Memorial Church is a wonderful example of how Grosse Pointe has changed and evolved over the years. Grosse Pointe is filled with many wonderful churches. Each one has […]
Continuing the story of Christ Church Chapel – part 1 from last week, we will now take a look at the unusual method used to construct the building along with exploring some of the wonderful elements that can be found inside the Church. As with most Gothic structures the exterior of the chapel is constructed […]
Possibly one of the most foremost examples of Gothic architecture in Grosse Pointe is Christ Church Chapel in Grosse Pointe Farms. Not only is it a rarity in the architectural sense, given that there are a limited number of Gothic buildings in the community, it is also one of only two buildings in the state […]