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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 core figure in Smith, Hinchman & Grylls (also known as the Smith Group), helping transform the firm into one of the largest architectural practices in all of the United States.
His body of work showcases his strong commitment to precision, structure, scale, and elegance, qualities deeply valued by Detroit’s early elite in historic districts like Indian Village, where you will find contributions of his such as the Luman Goodenough House at 1705 Seminole and the Nathan Jenks House at 1043 Burns.
Both homes feature Grylls’s durable architectural handiwork, refined brickwork, classic detailing, and strong street presence. While he is better known for his major civic and commercial landmarks across Detroit, his residential work demonstrates exactly why Indian Village drew in not just homeowners of esteem, but some of the most skilled architects on the 20th century.