Spanning an astonishing 12,000 square feet, The Meyer L. Prentis House (1905 Balmoral Drive, Detroit, MI 48203) is a sophisticated old Detroit residence designed by architect Richard H. Marr in 1925 for its first occupant, Meyer L. Prentis, the treasurer of the General Motors Corporation. One of the city of Detroit’s largest properties, the home […]

The William A. Fisher Mansion at 1791 Wellesley Drive, Detroit, MI 48203 is a landmark residence in the Palmer Woods Historic District. Constructed in 1916 by prominent Detroit architect Richard H. Marr for William A. Fisher (one of five of the iconic Fisher Brothers who produced an impressive 370,000 car bodies for Ford, Cadillac, Studebaker, […]

Brought to life in 1928 by visionary early 20th-century architect Lewis C. Miller for prominent industrialist Clyde P. Craine, the Clyde P. Craine House at 19511 Lowell Drive, Detroit, MI 48203 is a striking commission that perfectly reflects the tastes of Palmer Woods Historic District’s earliest residents – upwardly mobile professionals who gravitated to the […]

One of a handful of Palmer Woods’ historically significant residences, the Harvey S. Durand House at 19221 Strathcona Drive, Detroit, MI 48203, designed in 1916 by architect Richard H. Marr for attorney Harvey S. Durand and his wife Mabel F. Durand, is prime example of Detroit’s golden age architecture.  Built during the Palmer Woods District’s […]

Designed in 1937 by Detroit architect Gardiner C. Vose for Maurice A. Enggass, Vice President and Treasurer of the Enggass Jewelry Company (once Detroit’s oldest and largest jeweler), the Maurice A. Enggass House at 19365 Cumberland Way, Detroit, MI 48203 is a beautifully preserved landmark located within the Palmer Woods Historic District. Completed in 1938, […]

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 […]

Designed in 1958 by modernist architect Irving Tobocman for the couple Wolf and Esther Snyder, the Snyder House at 1280 Strathcona Drive, Detroit, MI 48203 is one of the most important mid-century residences and one of many located within the Palmer Woods Historic District – a boulevard known for early twentieth-century Tudor, Colonial, and Mediterranean […]

O.W. Schwermann was an early 20th-century Detroit architect whose designs aligned with the desires of the city’s growing business class during a period of rapid residential and economic growth. His work reflects the era’s preference for large, ornate homes that conveyed both comfort and acclaim. For living proof of this, look no further than the […]

While not as well-known as some of his contemporaries, Oscar C. Gottesleben (1882–1940) was a prominent Detroit architect of the golden age, a master of his craft who specialized in elegant, revival-influenced domestic architecture that quickly attracted the attention of the city’s early professional class. For living proof of his mastery, see the following Indian Village […]

R. Arthur Bailey (1867) was the architect behind the Palmer Woods commission, “the John S. Van Alstyne House,” located at 19480 Lowell Drive, which was built for John S. Van Alstyne Jr., President of the John S. Van Alstyne Company (Detroit News Building engravers). His work stands as a testament to both personal achievement and […]

Richard H. Marr (1886-1946) was a 20th-century Detroit architect known for his revival styling and expert-level attention to detail – design hallmarks that went a long way in attracting the attention of well-to-do residents of affluence. For proof of this, see the Albert H. Steinbrecher House, which Marr was commissioned to design at 31 Arden […]

Robert Finn was a Detroit architect who was active during the 20th century, a time when the city’s rapid development led to a boom in high-quality homes being constructed along its most exclusive residential boulevards.  Finn’s work combined classic and revival styles with high-quality detailing, which quickly caught the attention of Detroit’s rising class of […]

Rogers & Bonnah was the practice of James S. Rogers and Harrie W. Bonnah. One of Detroit’s most respected design firms during Detroit’s early economic boom and subsequent residential expansion, Rogers & Bonnah constructed gorgeous revival-influenced homes like the William E. Moss House (1481 Seminole) and the William A. C. Miller House (1720 Iroquois), two landmark […]

Rogers & MacFarlane was founded in 1885 by architects James S. Rogers Jr. and Walter MacFarlane. Best known for their rigorous technical training and high appeal with both commercial clients and Detroit’s early elite, Rogers & MacFarlane designed an impressive portfolio of over 200 buildings over the course of their career, ranging from sprawling industrial […]

Roland C. Gies (1874-1949) was a Detroit-born and raised architect who commissioned the Frederick T. Gies House at 585 Arden Park Boulevard in the historic Arden Park-East Boston Historic District before briefly partnering with Maxwell Grylls to form the firm of Grylls and Gies in 1904. Together, Maxwell and Roland designed several eye-catching brick Georgian […]