Joseph E. Mills & Sons was a prominent Detroit architectural and design firm that got its start during the city’s flourishing residential expansion period as it rose to industrial giant status in the early 1900s. The firm’s work placed a strong emphasis on masonry, proportion, revival-styling, and luxury – the exact architectural traits that appealed […]

William H. Van Tine (1856) was a Detroit architect who was active during the city’s major boom in growth during the early 20th century, contributing quality residential designs to several of its most upscale neighborhoods.  Van Tine’s architectural style often combined traditional influences with the understated elegance loved by Detroit’s rising class of automotive, business, […]

Herman & Simons was the architectural firm of Aloys Frank Herman and Howard Thomas Simons, a well-regarded practice known for the socially prominent homes they designed during the height of Detroit’s industrial prosperity.  Their work reflects the district’s overall architectural values: substance, elegance, and enduring craftsmanship catering to the interests of upper-middle-class residents and the […]

John Charles Stahl Jr. (1883–1959) was a 20th-century Detroit architect who rose to prominence during the city’s early economic boom – a time period defined by prestigious, revival-style housing that placed a strong focus on scale, symmetry, quality construction, and tasteful brick architecture – all hallmarks deeply aligned with the tastes and interests of Detroit’s […]

John Scott & Co was a prominent Detroit architectural firm in the 20th century that specialized in refined, quality residences that aligned with the tastes of the city’s growing professional and industrial class.  Their firm emphasized solid craftsmanship, brick detailing, scale, symmetrical organization, and elegance without excess, making them one of the main contributors to […]

Lewis C. Miller was a highly skilled architect and designer who had a major impact on Detroit’s suburban expansion during the 1920s.  His work showcases the tastes of the era’s elite class: sophisticated styling, quality craftsmanship and an emphasis on comfortability and luxury. One of his most notable commissions? The Clarence F. Tollzien House at […]

James S. Rogers (1859–1921) was a 20th-century Detroit architect and and co-founder of Rogers and MacFarlane, an MIT trained designer who gained prominence during the city’s most rapid industrial growth era, when a sudden burst of prosperity fueled the creation of high-quality, architect-commissioned neighborhoods.  Rogers’ extensive catalog of residential work features detailing that strikes a fine balance […]

J. J. Walshe & Company was an early 20th-century Detroit architect who had a major impact on Detroit’s residential development during the city’s automotive rise and subsequent economic boom.  Their work showcases a few hallmark qualities associated with elite neighborhoods: stunning façades, intricate brickwork, and an air of social prominence that appealed to the many […]

Joseph Ivan Dise (1887–1969) was a University of Pennsylvania trained Detroit architect, builder, and designer who had a big impact on the city of Detroit’s architectural scene during its rapid rise as an industrial giant and the economic expansion that quickly followed.  After receiving his training from the University of Pennsylvania, Dise went on to take […]

Harry S. Angell (1887–1949) was a 20th-century Detroit architect born in Howell, Michigan to Edwin G. and Carrie A. Sexton Angell – a master craftsman who helped transform historic neighborhoods like Indian Village into enclaves of prosperity, architectural taste, and prestige.  Angell’s residential work aligned with the tastes of the era’s early elite: sturdy brick […]

Grylls & Gies was the Detroit architectural firm of H. J. Maxwell Grylls and Roland Gies, an early 20th century design partnership known for their refined residential work during the city’s rapid upper-class development time period.  The firm’s homes often featured the balanced geometry and distinguished revival-styling favored by Detroit’s early elite — residences meant […]

Henry James Maxwell Grylls (1865–1942) was one of Detroit’s most prolific architects during the city’s early-20th-century architectural expansion and a founding member of the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts. English-born and educated, Grylls was already a master of classic European design principles by the time he arrived in Detroit.  From there, he became a […]

Schowalter Bros was an early 20th century Detroit architectural design and building firm closely associated with the growth and affluence of Detroit’s top residential districts during the city’s peak industrial expansion years.  Their work typically featured Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival styles, which continue to be the aesthetic defining Sherwood Forest and neighboring historic districts […]

Stahl & Kinsey was a Detroit architectural firm that had a significant impact on the city’s residential development scene during its booming industrial era. Their designs emphasized quality masonry, classical balance, and an architectural confidence well-suited for the aesthetic of elite neighborhoods like Indian Village, where you’ll find the Stahl & Kinsey property, the Charles […]

Smith & Walker was a prestigious architectural partnership that was active during Detroit’s golden age of residential development in the early 20th century. Their work represented the tastes of the city’s rising elite class – homes that conveyed stability, comfort, refinement, and a sense of belonging within Detroit’s most esteemed neighborhoods. As for the firm’s […]