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

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.