The Mitchell Demery House – 1525 Wellesley Drive, Detroit, MI 48203

An Italian Renaissance-style property designed by architect Alvin E. Harley for Mitchell Demery, President of Demery & Co, the Mitchell Demery House at 1525 Wellesley Drive, Detroit, MI 48203 is a sophisticated example of Detroit’s early 20th century architecture and an enduring Palmer Woods Historic District landmark.

The home reflects the elegance and formality that characterized many of Palmer Woods’ grandest early 20th-century residences.

Completed during the neighborhood’s peak development era, the 1525 Wellesley Drive property stands as a model of Alvin E. Harley’s refined architectural sensibilities, which included hallmarks such as:

• Stunning European revival styles
• Italian Renaissance compositions
• Arched entryways
• Balanced proportions that harmonized perfectly with the district’s curving streets, spacious wooded lots, and rich architectural diversity.
• In its later years, the Demery residence was sold to a Detroit local named Leo B. Brabant in 1932, who spent years maintaining its reputation as a cherished Palmer Woods Historic District architectural landmark.

Today, the Mitchell Demery House remains a key piece of old Detroit’s heritage. 

Its association with Alvin E. Harley, its early ownership by influential Detroit businessmen, and its refined Renaissance styling all enhance its significance within one of the city’s most exceptional historic neighborhoods.