Detroit Architects: Joseph E. Mills & Sons

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 to Detroit’s early elite, who settled down with their families in upscale districts like Indian Village.

There, you’ll find two commissions from Joseph E. Mills & Sons, including the Louis A. Peters House at 759 Seminole and the John J. Petz House at 3515 Burns.

Both residences fit seamlessly into the architectural fabric of Detroit’s residential areas, where sophisticated façades, elegant rooflines, and high-quality detailing intended to convey longevity and distinguished taste are the norm. 

In short: the work of Joseph E. Mills & Sons reinforces the idea that Indian Village is not simply a neighborhood, but a curated architectural statement created by many of the strongest residential designers in Detroit’s history.