The Walter S. Russel House – 1075 Burns Avenue, Detroit, MI 48214

The Walter S. Russel House at 1075 Burns Avenue, Detroit, MI 48214 was designed and constructed by civil engineer Walter S. Russel for himself.

A landmark early industrial age Detroit residence that was initially located on the northwest corner of East Jefferson and Joseph Campau, the home was then excavated and very carefully relocated to the Indian Village Historic District in 1921, which is where it can be found today.

This was a time period when Indian Village was just starting to establish itself as a prestigious residential enclave for Detroit’s early elite, and the home at 1075 Burns Avenue reflects this iconic early twentieth-century legacy with its striking design and fascinating backstory. 

In fact, Russel’s decision to preserve and relocate the property rather than demolish it places the residence in a league of its own among Indian Village’s many other gorgeous custom-built homes from the same time period. 

Today, the house continues its life in a district defined by architectural intention and permanence in equal measure, giving off an esteemed yet comfortable vibe that fits in well within one of Indian Village’s most historic and enduring streetscapes.