Category: Grylls & Gies

Located at 1038 Burns Avenue, Detroit, MI 48214, the Albert S. Keen House is one of a handful of residences that remain in the Indian Village Historic District from Detroit’s architectural golden age and the turn-of-the-century industrial boom period.

Brought to life by the prestigious early-20th-century design firm Grylls & Gies, the Keen House is one of a handful of striking architect-designed Burns Avenue residences that bring to mind Detroit’s earliest days – not to mention a prime example of the thoughtful, well-proportioned design that Grylls & Gies built their careers around.

The home is impossible to miss thanks to its quality craftsmanship, carefully articulated facades, and stately curbside appeal.

As for its first occupant, Albert S. Keen was one of many early Detroit elites who chose Indian Village to put down roots, drawn in by its prestigious reputation and abundant aesthetic qualities that would eventually make the Indian Village district synonymous with prosperity and architectural distinction.

That reputation has carried on to the present day.

Currently, the Albert S. Keen House at 1038 Burns Avenue remains a key part of Indian Village’s esteemed legacy – a lasting old Detroit contribution to one of Detroit’s most cherished historic districts.

1127 Seminole, Detroit, MI 48214, also known as The William G. Thomas House, is a stately and hard to miss Detroit golden age residence commissioned by the design firm Grylls & Gies in the Indian Village Historic District.

Best known for their visually cohesive and gracefully constructed residential and commercial properties built during Detroit’s rise as an industrial giant, Grylls & Gies constructed the William G. Thomas House with the intention of crafting an enduring landmark that would withstand the test of time while furthering Indian Village’s reputation as a suburb for the wealthy and upwardly mobile. 

This was a time when Grylls & Gies were just beginning to gain a reputation for their mastery of eye-catching architectural detailing, including balanced façades, quality craftsmanship, carefully articulated rooflines, sturdy masonry, and well-executed window arrangements.

Today, the William G. Thomas House at 1127 Seminole remains an integral part of Seminole Street’s historical fabric, showcasing the ambitions of Detroit’s early twentieth-century families who settled down in upscale suburbs like Indian Village seeking peace, quiet, and permanence.