Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe

Last week we went 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 admired building firms.

This week we are going to focus on the home and work of Ward Arnold Detwiler. As the partner of John Bryant, their company – Bryant and Detwiler – created some of the most noteworthy factories, stores, and offices in Detroit during the early twentieth century. Mr. Detwiler resided at 1009 Three Mile, a house designed by noted architects Crombie and Stanton in 1925.

1009 Three Mile is a 7,500 sq ft English country manor home, located on 1.4 acres. The exterior of the 3-story home has many interesting details including a unique carving on the front elevation, carved limestone above the front door, and decorative wrought iron. The 3-story home has six main bedrooms, a large kitchen (14’ x 22’), living room (20’ x 30’), dining room (17’ x 20’), and a butler’s pantry. The attached three car garage has three further bedrooms, originally for maids. Attached to the home is a porte-cochère that once provided access to a “private motor court” at the rear of the home. Traditionally, a porte-cochère provided a covered place for vehicles to stop thus allowing passengers to be protected from the weather as they entered the home. It also allowed a vehicle to pass from the street to an interior courtyard – a feature of many 18^th and 19^th century mansions and public buildings in Europe. Images courtesy of: Katie Doelle.

Prior to moving to his new home in Grosse Pointe, Mr. Detwiler had resided at 46 Woodland Avenue with his first wife Mabel (who passed in 1915), the couple had one son, John. Following his marriage to Grace M. Albert (in 1917) the couple lived at 1455 Chicago Blvd and then moved to 1009 Three Mile in 1925. They had three sons – Ward II, George, and Peter. Following the passing of Ward Detwiler on 19 June 1946, the property remained with the Detwiler family for decades. It appears it was first listed for sale in the summer of 1988. Prior to 1009 Three Mile going on the market an estate sale was held with many remarkable pieces of furniture available such as a 1940’s wicker porch set, a 1920’s overstuffed sofa, wicker and oak tables, a 1940’s mirror top vanity, a pair of green brocade Chinese chairs, and a 1940 s rattan deck chair. Source: Grosse Pointe News (February 1988).

Ward Arnold Detwiler was born on 10 September 1880 in Henderson, MI. In 1904, he co-founded the construction company with John A. Bryant. By 1908, Bryant and Detwiler had become a corporation with Mr. Detwiler becoming president. The company began around the same time as the great industrial growth of the City of Detroit, which resulted in them erecting some of the largest and most significant factories, stores, and office buildings in the state of Michigan. Over the years Bryant and Detwiler gained the prestigious designation of “master builders”, with some of their constructions pronounced “superior for the purposes intended.” Source: Detroit Free Press (May 1913). It is possible their only residential project in Grosse Pointe was 815 Ellair Place (the home of John Bryant). We cannot confirm if they built Mr. Detwiler’s home at 1009 Three Mile.

In terms of their commercial work, a few of their more well-known constructions include

The Detroit Institute of Arts (the architect was Paul Philippe Cret, who collaborated with Zantzinger, Borie and Medary. Paul Cret was a French-born Philadelphia architect who taught at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Architecture.
The Packard Car Company plant (a project that took many years to complete)
The Dodge Brothers plant in Hamtramck – once considered the model for the manufacture of auto mobile plants in the United States
Ford Motor General Staff Building
Main office of the National Bank of Detroit
Detroit Free Press building
Most of the Ford Rouge plant
The J. L. Hudson Department store

Bryant and Detwiler worked with some of the most talented architects during the early twentieth century who designed some amazing structures, including Albert Kahn, Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, Paul Philippe Cret, and Crombie and Stanton (to name but a few).

The architects Crombie and Stanton were responsible for designing Mr. Detwiler’s new home at 1009 Three Mile, in Grosse Pointe Park (completed in 1925). The work of Crombie & Stanton covered a board range of architectural styles and featured beautiful brickwork and details. Not only did they design 340 Lakeland, one of the largest homes in Grosse Pointe City, but also serval other fine homes in the community during the 1920’s, including.

320 Washington
355 Lakeland
1036 Bishop
1100 Devonshire
57 Cambridge
1094 Grayton
505 Pemberton
1008 Yorkshire

Ward Detweiler had a phenomenal career. Alongside his partner John Bryant, the company of Bryant & Detwiler were a major influence on Detroit’s architectural landscape.

* 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