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Wilson Eyre

American architect, teacher and writer, 1858 to 1944, born in Florence

Charles Lang Freer House, Detroit's Cultural Center, 1887 Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Designer of the Charles Lang Freer House, the house that was built in Detroit's Cultural Center in 1887, on the National Register since 1971. The Detroit Club, Detroit (1891), is the other Eyre work on record here.

notable works beyond Metro Detroit
11

Wilson Eyre, here and around the world, by height

Both of Eyre's works on record, with 3 of Eyre's notable works elsewhere drawn paler, oldest at left. None has a height on record, so each is drawn at one standard size in the shape of its kind.

Both of Eyre's works on record, with 3 of Eyre's notable works elsewhere drawn paler, oldest at left. None has a height on record, so each is drawn at one standard size in the shape of its kind.

Charles Lang Freer House

1887, Detroit, height not on record, drawn at one standard size

Photographed standing in 2008

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The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

Wilson Eyre lived from 1858 to 1944, a life that began in Florence, and Wikidata describes Eyre as an American architect, teacher and writer. Of everything Eyre designed here, the Charles Lang Freer House leads the list, a house in Detroit's Cultural Center, finished in 1887 and listed on the National Register in 1971.

Beyond the six counties, Eyre designed Anglecot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1883), University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1887), and the Clarence B. Moore House in Pennsylvania. Eyre's honors include the Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

Both the Charles Lang Freer House and the Detroit Club still stand. The record opens in 1887 with the Charles Lang Freer House, as Detroit's lumber, stove and shipbuilding money went into brick and stone, and closes in 1891 with the Detroit Club.

John Scott is credited beside Eyre on the Detroit Club. In Detroit, Eyre's work stands in Cultural Center. The Charles Lang Freer House at 71 E. Ferry Ave is a good first stop for anyone tracing Eyre's buildings.

Wilson Eyre Jr. (October 30, 1858, October 23, 1944) was an American architect, teacher and writer who practiced in the Philadelphia area. He is known for his deliberately informal and welcoming country houses, and for being an innovator in the Shingle Style.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Wilson Eyre in Metro Detroit, oldest first

Where their buildings stand

2 works on the map

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  • Standing
  • Demolished
  • Altered
  • Works close together

2 works on the map

Wilson Eyre's work elsewhere

11 notable works by Wilson Eyre in 6 places, from 1740 to 1887, as Wikidata lists them.

Who Eyre worked with

Where the work stands

In the Detroit Ledger

Photo credits

All 13 photos on Wilson Eyre's page, each with its author, license and the original.

  1. The Charles Lang Freer House, at 71 East Ferry Street in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Photograph of architect Wilson Eyre, 1901 Photo: Moses King, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Detroit Club (private business club), 2007 Photo: Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Anglecot Photo: Smallbones, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Photo: Jeffrey M. Vinocur, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
  6. Clarence B. Moore House Photo: Jack Boucher, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  7. Donald Grant Herring Estate Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  8. Dr. Henry Genet Taylor House and Office Photo: Jack Boucher, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  9. Dr. Joseph Leidy House Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  10. George W. King Mansion-Etowah Photo: Nyttend, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  11. Neill-Mauran House Photo: Smallbones, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  12. Sally Watson House Photo: Smallbones, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  13. St. Columba's Chapel Photo: mhjohns, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

The facts on Wilson Eyre come from Historic Detroit, Wikidata, Wikipedia, and Photos; Rebuild Detroit wrote the story above from them, and each photo names its license.