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

Designed by the influential late 19^th 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.