Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe

Last week we turned our attention to one of Grosse Pointes lost estates – 431 Lake Shore. This once grand home was completed in 1914, by the nationally renowned architectural firm Smith, Hinchman & Grylls for William P. Stevens, an industrial developer. It was demolished in the fall of 2001.

This week we head to 61 Moross a rather handsome English Cottage style home, completed in 1925, most likely for the legendary baseball player Ty Cobb.

Grosse Pointe is known for its prominent families who once made their home in the community. Some of these families, at the time, were nationally renowned figures, and over the years has included several high-profile baseball stars including

Kirk Gibson – 40 Sunningdale
Lawrence Roehm – 354 Washington
Gordon “Mickey” Cochrane – 440 University
Cecil Fielder – 109 Kenwood
Walter Owen Briggs Sr. – once owner of the Detroit Tigers (105 Lake Shore)
Ty Cobb – 61 Moross

Ty Cobb, who resided at 61 Moross during the 1920’s, was the first-ever player to be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown in 1939. He was born in Georgia on December 18, 1886, and played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball. This included 22 years with the Detroit Tigers (1905–1926) serving as the team’s player-manager for the last six, before finishing his career with the Philadelphia Athletics (1927–1928). During his career Cobb is credited with setting 90 MLB records, and in 1999, the Sporting News ranked Cobb third on its list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players.

It is understood Ty Cobb lived at a couple of addresses in Metro Detroit, beginning with 800 Atkinson (just south of Boston-Edison – constructed in 1910) and 4117 Commonwealth Street (constructed in 1912). It is highly likely he then commissioned the house at 61 Moross where he would have lived for a short time before he and his family (his wife Charlie, and their five children) left the city to live in Philadelphia. Following two years with the Philadelphia Athletics, Cobb announced his retirement on September 11, 1928. As he began the next phase of his life Cobb toured Europe with his family, went to Scotland for some time, and then returned to his farm in Georgia before moving to California. Ty Cobb passed in Georgia on July 17, 1961. Source and image: Wikipedia

61 Moross was constructed in 1925. The three-story property is an English Cottage style home, displaying many typical characteristics associated with this approach – a steeply pitched roof, an oversized chimney on the side elevation, multiple small windows, a gable roof, and an asymmetric configuration. The roof of the garage has a small cupola in the center. The photo below was taken in December 1960.

In 1970, the house was remodeled at a cost of $60,000 (around $505,000 today), which included a one-story addition to the side and rear of the home that increased the size to 2,674 sq ft. Following the remodel the interior contained a total of 11 rooms including 7 bedrooms (two were originally for maids). On the main floor was a 17’ x 11’ foyer with Travertine marble, while the family room had a fireplace, a wet bar, a cherry wood beamed ceiling and three thermos-glass door walls leading to the patio. The living room had built-in bookcases, a decorator wrought iron gate at the dining room arch, a covered ceiling, and a Belgian black and gold marble fireplace. The second floor was the location of five bedrooms, while the third floor had two further bedrooms, originally for maids. The house was filled with fine architectural details, wool carpeting, plus an intercom system that serviced the whole house and entrance. The property also once had a circular drive with a formal garden and lighted fountain. The photo below and the floor plan is how the house looked after the remodel.

It is not clear when Ty Cobb listed 61 Moross for sale, but it is noted in our files the second owner, H. T. Hooper put the house on the market in December 1940 for $12,000 (around $280,000 today) and it was eventually sold in January 1943 to Ervin Sorge. By 1951 it was owned by William G. Kerby. It was sold again in December 1969 to Clarence Kavan, who proceeded to totally remodel the home (as per the details above). In March 1975, the house was sold to Dwight Brown who renovated the house once again in 1978. Images courtesy of GoogleEarth

61 Moross is yet another house in Grosse Pointe that has an interesting story to tell – not just architecturally but also neighborly, courtesy of the prominent figure that once lived there.

A big thank you to Kevin Rosebrough for recommending this home to research.

* 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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