Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe

Last week we introduced the Gracie Wallpaper Company. This very special and exclusive interior feature is not your standard wallpaper, but a covering of silk, hand painted by artists. To this day it remains highly sought after and can be found on the walls of some of the most notable homes in the world, including at least two residences in Grosse Pointe.

This week we head to 815 Ellair Place, a magnificent English Tudor residence located at the end of the street, overlooking Lake St. Clair. It was designed by the nationally recognized firm of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls in 1930, for John A. Bryant. Mr. Bryant was co-founder of the Bryant and Detwiler Company, one of Detroit’s most noted building contractor firms. 815 Ellair was built by his own company.

Ellair Place is an historic street in Grosse Pointe Park. There is around 102 years of separation from when the first home was constructed (in 1895) through to the last addition (in 1997). The ten houses cover a broad spectrum of architectural styles, ranging from English manor, Cape Cod, and Colonial, through to Midcentury Modern. Over the years at least two significant properties have been razed: 820 Ellair (demolished in 1996) and 858 Ellair (year of demolition cannot be confirmed).

815 Ellair is a stately 7,030 sq ft home with six bedrooms, a four-car garage and a separate carriage house. The main floor features a 21’ x 30’ sq ft living room, a 12’ x 40’ sq ft sitting room, a 15’ x 20’ sq ft dining room, along with a maid’s sitting room. The second floor has four main bedrooms – the master suite has vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the lake. There were two further bedrooms for maids. At some point an intercom to the main door was added, accessible from 7 telephones – located within individual rooms within the house and from the carriage house. During the late 1960’s the carriage house was converted into an apartment. In 1970, the then owner Kennith Scott listed the carriage house for lease at $185/ month including heat (around $1,500 today).

The original owner and builder of the home was John A. Bryant, an engineer, builder, and co-founder of the Bryant and Detwiler Company. He was born in Lake George, New York on December 31, 1880. Having graduated from the University of Michigan he came to Detroit in 1902. In 1904, John A. Bryant co-founded the construction company with Ward A. Detwiler. In 1906 he became treasurer, and in 1908, the Bryant and Detwiler Company had become a corporation. The firm was noted for the construction of several prominent buildings in Detroit, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Ford Motor General Staff Building, the main office of the National Bank of Detroit, and the Packard Car Building among others. Image courtesy of: Detroit Free Press (November 1938).

Prior to moving to Grosse Pointe Mr. Bryant and his family resided at 235 Arden Park, Boston Historic District (a house that he also built for himself). Completed in 1911, it is understood to be the first house built at Arden Park. Mr. Bryant married Helen Spier of Mt. Clemens in 1905, and together they had two children. Image courtesy of: Detroit Free Press (September 1911).

The family moved into 815 Ellair in 1930. Following the death of John Bryant (on November 15, 1938), Helen Bryant listed the house for sale in June 1939. It was purchased by Mr. Earl Milner, president of one of the world’s largest hotel chains. After Mr. Milner passed on 23 June 1947, the property was bought (in January 1950) by Robert Bliss Wolfe, president of Bliss Wolf Inc, a realty firm. Mr. Wolfe purchased the home for $54,600 (around $725,000 today). Following Mr. Wolfe’s death in October 1958, his wife Irma listed the home for sale in March 1961. The price, $145,000 (around $1.5m today) was only for the main house and excluded the 100’ piece of land with the garage apartment on it. Five months later 815 Ellair was purchased by William Walker, Jr., general manager of United Motors Service Division, General Motors Corp. It is reported William Walker filled the home with fine furniture, art objects, Oriental rugs, and antiques. Some of the items included English Chippendale furniture, Tiffany Sterling silver, antique provincial furniture, antique tables chairs and mirrors, fine oil paintings, and bronze statuary. After Mr. Walker passed (13 June 1965), the house was the location of a public auction by DuMouchelle’s, in June 1969, with many of the fabulous items owned by Mr. Walker available for purchase. By 1980, the home was owned by Dr. Robert Dickenman. It was then listed for sale again in October 2005, with a whopping price tag of $5,800,000. Image courtesy of: GoogleEarth.

The architects of 815 Ellair were Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls (SHG) who had a stellar reputation in Detroit for designing large commercial and civic projects during the early twentieth century. At the time, the firm employed some of the finest architects in the city. Aside from creating a multitude of grand residences throughout Metro Detroit they were also responsible for designing iconic buildings such as –

Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery (1904)
Crowleys Department Store (Detroit 1906)
Hudsons Department Store (Detroit 1911)
The Bankers Trust Company Building (Detroit 1925)
The Buhl Building (Detroit 1925)
Guardian Building (Detroit 1928)

Despite their work on these larger scale projects the firm of SHG were just as skilled with residential projects. This included multiple homes in Grosse Pointe and several noted public buildings including the Country Club of Detroit (1926-27). Today the company still exists under the name of SmithGroupJJR. The company is now one of the largest architectural and engineering firms in the United States and employs over 1300 people.

815 Ellair is a work of art. A fine location not just for the noteworthy people who have owned the home, but for all the many antiques and beautiful objects that have been displayed in the property over the years.

* 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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