This work of art still stands today at 22 Webber Place and was the home to Oscar Webber until 1946. The Webber Mansion was the largest residential commission of architect Leonard B. Willeke’s distinguished career. Having moved from Cincinnati to Detroit in 1914, Willeke maintained a prestigious practice in Detroit. He was a skilled designer […]
At the beginning of the twentieth the architects who were commissioned to create the great homes in Grosse Pointe were becoming just as important as the men who were hiring them. The ‘era of the mansions’ had brought some of the nations most noted architects to the community – Albert Kahn, Charles A Platt, Robert […]
Those of us who drive Lake Shore on a regular basis always enjoy the sight of the GPYC. Even from Lake Shore Road, one can’t help marveling at the clubhouse with its imposing Venetian architecture and soaring187-foot bell tower — especially on a foggy day when the tip of the steeple pokes above the mist […]
We have so enjoyed covering the work of notable architect Robert O. Derrick we thought we would cover one more of his projects – the F. Caldwell Walker House, also known as the Vendome Mansion. Having lived in Grosse Pointe for a number of years Robert O.Derrick had become a prominent figure and his buildings […]
After covering several projects by architect Robert O. Derrick – lets take a look at another of his prominent creations – the Punch and Judy Theater. Residential architect and designer of the Henry Ford Museum Robert O. Derrick was becoming a prominent architect in Grosse Pointe, having designed the ‘Little Club” (1923) and “Bellmoor”, 15420 […]
Edgemere, one of the first grand year-round homes in Grosse Pointe and home to Joseph Berry in 1882. Joseph Berry was a prominent figure in the Grosse Pointe community in the late nineteenth century. As a teenager he had moved with his family from Richmond, VA to Detroit in 1855. At the age of sixteen […]
Lets take a look at a prolific and versatile Grosse Pointe architect, Hugh T. Keyes and his work at 78 Lake Shore. Hugh Tallman Keyes was a noted early 20th century architect. His work centered on creating grand estates for the industrialists of Metropolitan Detroit (clients included Ford, Bugas and Mennen) and he is considered […]
After covering the “Little Club” and the work of architect Robert O. Derrick, lets take a look at another project of his – 15420 Windmill Pointe, Grosse Pointe Park. Commissioned by John Bell Moran, the Morans had been a prominent family in Detroit for almost 180 years. John B. Moran was part of the family […]
Lets take a look at one of Grosse Pointes most recognizable buildings – The “Little Club”. Grosse Pointe has always had a diversity of clubs. One of the earliest was the Country Club of Detroit, originally designed by Albert Kahn in 1907, it served as a hub for social life of early Grosse Pointe. In […]
We couldn’t cover the architectural history of Grosse Pointe without mentioning Albert Kahn, the genius architect who designed and built over 14 important buildings in the community. Kahn was born in Rhaunen, Germany in 1869. He arrived in Detroit, in 1880 aged 11. As a teenager he landed a job at the architectural firm of […]