or

By signing in, I accept the Rebuildetroit.com Terms of Use.

Agent Registration

Find Your Agent Profile

Agent Registration

Category: East Ferry Historic District

The George A. Owen House – 100 East Ferry Street, Detroit, MI 48202

Posted on by Expert

A prime example of early Detroit’s stunning Romanesque-inspired designs, The George A. Owen House at 100 East Ferry Street, Detroit, MI 48202, is one of the East Ferry Avenue Historic District’s most architecturally distinct residences.

Designed by John Scott & Company for dry goods trader George A. Owen, the home at 100 East Ferry Street was completed in the late nineteenth century and features many architectural details from that time period, including:

  • A gabled-hip roof
  • Brick and brownstone construction
  • Ornamental stone banding
  • Marquetry, pinnacles, and a striking columned veranda / front façade

However, after George Owen’s passing, his widow sold the home to Edward F. Rush of the Alfred Rush Sons-Fruits family business, who later transferred the property to the Merrill-Palmer Institute in 1924 so that it could be used for student residences and educational purposes.

Today, although the home’s current status is uncertain, the George A. Owen House remains a cherish architectural gem within the East Ferry Avenue Historic District—a testament to John Scott’s design skills and mastery of well-crafted, historically significant residences.

The Rufus Goodell House – 223 East Ferry Street, Detroit, MI 48202

Posted on by Expert

Designed by the prolific Detroit architectural practice Rogers & MacFarlane for Rufus Goodell, The Rufus Goodell House at 223 East Ferry Street, Detroit, MI 48202 is a notable landmark within Detroit’s gorgeous East Ferry Avenue Historic District.

As for its owner, Rufus Goodell belonged to the group of upwardly mobile, socially prominent Detroiters who helped establish East Ferry Avenue as one of Detroit’s most culturally significant suburbs, his custom-designed home placing a strong emphasis on architectural quality, scale, masonry detail, and stylistic refinement.

Located on one of Detroit’s most architecturally cohesive residential blocks, the home reflects the district’s tradition of individually commissioned Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, and Colonial Revival residences that blend harmoniously together to give East Ferry Avenue an elite, cohesive curbside appeal. 

Today, the 223 East Ferry Street house remains a cherished part of the East Ferry Avenue Historic District, reinforcing the area’s enduring identity as one of Detroit’s most intact historic neighborhoods from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The Samuel A. Sloman House – 222 East Ferry Street, Detroit, MI 48202

Posted on by Expert

Designed by architect George V. Pottle for civic professional and early philanthropist Samuel A. Sloman, the Samuel A. Sloman House at 222 East Ferry Street, Detroit, MI 48202, is a sophisticated residence within Detroit’s East Ferry Avenue Historic District.

Located within a beautiful corridor known for its enduring architect-commissioned homes, the Sloman House stands as a model of George V. Pottle’s mastery of turn-of-the-century architecture – a home defined by its refined proportions, balanced composition, detailed masonry, and elite curbside appeal that fits right in within a district known for its striking Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, and Colonial Revival residences. 

Today, the Samuel A. Sloman House at 222 East Ferry Street stands as an important landmark showcasing the architectural richness of the East Ferry Avenue Historic District. 

Its quality craftsmanship, esteemed pedigree, and enduring presence reinforce the district’s reputation as one of Detroit’s most intact and culturally meaningful residential environments.

The William Lennane House – 5461 Brush St, Detroit, MI, 48202

Posted on by Expert

Designed by the influential late 19th and early 20th-century architects Smith, Hinchman & Grylls (who would later become the SmithGroup) for early Detroit resident William Lennane, the William Lennane House at 5461 Brush St, Detroit, MI, 48202 is a distinguished residence constructed in the East Ferry Historic District’s Brush Park area during a period when Detroit was just beginning its rise as an industrial giant.

Constructed by one of the most prestigious design firms of the era, the Lennane House stands as a model of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls’ mastery for blending stylistic restraint with intricate detailing, resulting in a residence that harmonized well with its historic neighborhood in its early 1900s rise as a mixed-style district of both historic mansions and newer architect-designed homes.

Seeking a home with more modern architectural sensibility than the earlier Queen Anne and Second Empire mansions that once dominated East Ferry, the home’s original owner William Lennane commissioned Smith, Hinchman & Grylls to provide him with exactly that.

That said, Leanne was just one of many upwardly mobile Detroit professionals of the time who helped redefine Brush Park through their residency, exemplifying the neighborhood’s shift toward architect-designed homes defined by cleaner lines, balanced proportions, and a more understated elegance.

Today, the 5461 Brush Street property remains a core contributor to Brush Park’s historic legacy, its presence underscoring Detroit’s cultural and architectural significance.

The Howard B. Holden House – 314 E Ferry St, Detroit, MI 48202

Posted on by Expert

Commissioned by prominent early 20th century architect Harry S. Angell for a resident named Howard B. Holden, the Howard B. Holden House at 314 E Ferry St, Detroit, MI 48202 is a cherished landmark residence within the East Ferry Avenue Historic District.

One of Detroit’s most architecturally rich and historically preserved streets, East Ferry Avenue was once known as a showcase neighborhood for residents like the first owner of 314 East Ferry Avenue, Howard B. Holden – working professionals who belonged to a class of successful early elite.

Howard occupied the home during a time when East Ferry Avenue was slowly transforming into one of Detroit’s most desirable residential enclaves, further reinforcing the East Ferry District’s longstanding association with architectural individuality and quality craftsmanship.

As for the Holden House’s designer, Harry S. Angell was well known for his refined residential work in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bringing a thoughtful approach to Detroit’s architectural landscape during its most rapid period of growth.

His design catalog spans everything from Queen Anne to Romanesque Revival to Colonial Revival and early Arts and Crafts influences, harmonizing well with the many other architect-commissioned homes on East Ferry Avenue through careful attention to proportion, elegant massing, and subtle ornamentation.

Today, the Howard B. Holden House at 314 East Ferry Avenue remains a key contributor to the East Ferry District’s historic reputation, its esteemed pedigree, prime location, and close connection to beloved architect Harry S. Angell all playing into its ongoing importance. 

The Richard H. Macauley House – 270 East Ferry Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48202

Posted on by Expert

Designed by prominent Detroit architect Joseph E. Mills for Richard H. Macauley, the Richard H. Macauley House at 270 East Ferry Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48202 is an architecturally distinguished residence within the East Ferry Avenue Historic District – a stretch with a reputation for a high concentration of architect-designed homes built for Detroit’s early professional and industrial elite.

Backed by an impressive portfolio spanning everything from public buildings to commercial structures and intricately crafted residences, Joseph E. Mills brought a sophisticated design sensibility to the Macauley House. 

His residential catalog is defined by hallmarks such as balanced proportions, expressive masonry, and intricate stylistic details, all of which help the home integrate seamlessly within East Ferry’s broader architectural landscape – one defined by its stunning Queen Anne, Romanesque, Colonial Revival, and early Arts and Crafts influences. 

As for the home’s first resident, Richard H. Macauley was part of an entire generation of upwardly mobile Detroiters who established East Ferry Avenue as one of the city’s most desirable residential corridors in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

His decision to commission Mills underscores the district’s tradition of individualized, high-quality architecture.

Today, the 270 East Ferry Avenue house remains a significant contribution to the East Ferry District’s architectural pedigree, securing its place within one of Detroit’s most striking neighborhoods and further affirming its enduring cultural and historical importance.

The Henry P. Baldwin II House – 295 E Ferry St, Detroit, MI 48202

Posted on by Expert

Designed by the prominent architectural firm John Scott & Company for Henry P. Baldwin II, the Henry P. Baldwin II House at 295 E Ferry St, Detroit, MI 48202 (located within the East Ferry Historic District) is a sophisticated early 20th century residence reflecting the refined craftsmanship and quality architecture sought after by Detroit’s first wave of professional, civic, and industrial upwardly mobile residents.

One such resident was Henry P. Baldwin II, who belonged to a family with intricate ties to the state of Michigan’s political and business history.

Henry’s father, Henry P. Baldwin Sr., was a former Governor of Michigan and a U.S. Senator, which meant that the years he spent in the 295 East Ferry Avenue residence went a long way in uplifting the East Ferry Historic District’s prestige and status.

As for the home’s architect, John Scott was one of Detroit’s most accomplished designers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, not to mention the man responsible for some of Detroit’s most iconic landmarks, such as the Wayne County Building and a handful of luxurious high-style residences all across the city. 

That said, it is the Baldwin House that best exhibits Scott’s mastery of proportion, masonry, and balanced massing when it came to upscale residential commissions – a home that continues to contribute to the district’s cohesive yet richly varied architectural fabric.