Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Architect Omer C. Bouschor

Last week we explored the work of Earl G. Meyer. During his career he was a respected and prolific architect associated with the design of school buildings in southeastern Michigan during the 1950’s.

As with so many architects who began their careers during the 1930’s, these designers contributed a significant amount of work yet haven’t received the recognition they deserve, with very little written about them. This week we continue with the theme as we introduce another fine designer Omer Cecil Bouschor. During his career this Detroit based architect created nearly 30 homes in Grosse Pointe.

The homes Omer C. Bouschor created are exquisite. With the majority under 7,000 sq ft in size, his work covered numerous architectural styles and evolved based on the architectural trends of the era. Omer Bouschor was born on 30 October 1902, in Thompson, MI. It is understood he worked in several communities including Grosse Pointe, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, and Saginaw. His work in Grosse Pointe was interesting in that the style of his creations fell into two very distinctive periods, pre 1940 and post 1940. Pre 1940, it appears he primarily centered on Tudor revival style homes. Then, from 1940 until the mid 1950’s, there seems to be a definite change in his approach to focus on modern Colonial residences and larger Georgian homes.

In part 1 of our presentation on Omer C. Bouschor, we begin with the pre 1940 period – the residences he created in Grosse Pointe between 1934 and 1939. The majority of these homes are in the Tudor Revival style and are mostly located in Grosse Pointe Park.

1934

752 Barrington

This 1,262 sq ft brick residence is one of Bouschor’s earliest projects in the Pointes and probably the smallest home he worked on.

1935

946 Balfour

This is one of Bouschor’s distinctive Tudor homes. The 4,850 sq ft house features magnificent detailing inside and out. The interior includes gumwood paneling in the library, a large living room with a bay window, along with a beautiful stained-glass window on the second floor that is visible on the front elevation.

828 Berkshire
1052 Devonshire

An elegant Tudor home constructed from brick with a wonderful use of stone detailing on the chimney and around the windows. From researching his work, it appears Bouschor regularly positioned oversized elaborate chimneys as one of the main features on the front elevation.

113 Merriweather

One of the earlier homes Bouschor created in a Modern Colonial approach. It is constructed from brick with a clapboard front on the second floor. The 3,500 sq ft residence is poles apart from the Tudor homes he had been working on and was possibly his earliest project in Grosse Pointe Farms.

1258 Yorkshire

15621 Windmill Pointe
This was Bouschor’s first Tudor Revival inspired home on Windmill Pointe. The 5,460 sq ft house features multiple natural fireplaces, a garden room, and five bedrooms. There was a pub room, and a wine cellar in the basement.

1936

631 Pemberton

15231 Windmill Pointe – Image courtesy of Realtor.com

15127 Windmill Pointe
The 4,100 sq ft residence is another of Bouschor’s earlier Modern Colonial inspired designs. An oversized stone clad chimney dominates the front façade. Image courtesy of Realtor.com

1937

154 Touraine

1265 Buckingham
719 Berkshire

1938

77 Oxford

133 Merriweather

Bouschor’s second home on Merriweather, this is a charming English Country style residence with a steeply pitched slate roof, copper and limestone trim, along with an oversized chimney. The interior features include a carved limestone fireplace, hand carved plaster moldings, and a large bay window in the living room.

1939

759 Berkshire – Image courtesy of: Realtor.com

1117 Bishop – Image courtesy of: Realtor.com
505 Middlesex

Next week we will continue with second part of our presentation on Omer C. Bouschor’s homes in Grosse Pointe as we explore the projects he worked on from 1940 – 1954.

* Photos courtesy of the Higbie Maxon Agney archives unless stated.
** Research, information, and data sources are deemed reliable, but accuracy cannot be fully guaranteed.

You might also like