Brush Park Historic District

Woodward East Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Streetscape on Edmund
Location:	Detroit, Michigan United States
Coordinates:	42°20′43″N 83°3′9″W
Architectural style:	Late Victorian, French Renaissance Revival, Second Empire, Other
Governing body:	Local
NRHP Reference#:	75000973
Added to NRHP:	January 21, 1975

Brush Park Historic District is a 24 block neighborhood located within Midtown Detroit, Michigan and designated by the city. It is bounded by Mack Avenue on the north, Woodward Avenue on the west, Beaubien Street on the east, and the Fisher Freeway on the south. The neighborhood is experiencing restorations of its historic Gilded Age, French Renaissance Revival, Victorian style homes and luring new residents.

Woodward East Historic District

The Woodward East Historic District is a smaller historic district, recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, which is completely encompassed by the larger Brush Park neighborhood. The Woodward East Historic District is located on Alfred, Edmund, and Watson Streets from Brush Street to John R Street in Detroit, Michigan. Woodward East is particularly known for the high Victorian style residences constructed for Detroit's wealthiest citizens. A number of grand houses have been restored in recent years paying particular attention on the various architectural details, including Second Empire slate Mansard roofs, Romanesque columns and classical dentiled cornices.

History

Lucien Moore House at 104 Edmund Place was constructed in 1885 and restored in 2006.

Beginning in the 1850s, entrepreneur Edmund Brush, son of Elijah Brush, the city's second mayor from its first incorporation, began developing his family's property, located conveniently close to downtown, into a neighborhood for Detroit's elite citizens. Homes were built in Brush Park beginning in the 1850s and peaking in the 1870s and 1880s; one of the last homes built was constructed in 1906 by architect Albert Kahn for his personal use. Kahn lived in this home until his death in 1942, after which it was obtained by the Detroit Urban League, which still uses it today. Other early residents of Brush Park included lumber baron David Whitney Jr., his daughter Grace Whitney Evans, Joseph L. Hudson, founder of the eponymous department store, lumber baron Lucien Moore, banker Frederick Butler, merchant John P. Fiske, Dime Savings Bank founder William Livingstone, and dry goods manufacturer Ransom Gillis. In the late 19th century, the Brush Park neighborhood became known as the "Little Paris of the Midwest."

Architects who designed these mansions included Henry T. Brush, George D. Mason, George W. Nettleton, and Albert Kahn. The French Renaissance style William Livingstone House (1892–93) on Eliot St. was Albert Kahn's first commission. Livingstone was the founder of the Dime Savings Bank. Originally built about one block to the west of its final resting place to the west of John R, the Red Cross intended to demolish the Livingstone House for their new building. Preservationists succeeded in successfully moving the Livingstone Home about one block to the east. Nevertheless, after this change of position some serious structural problems concerning the house's foundations caused the gradual collapse of the building. Artist Lowell Bioleau commemorated the William Livingstone House in a painting entitled Open House which he unveiled the day of its demolition September 15, 2007, underscoring preservationist efforts.

As of 2001, about 154 original structures remained in the area. During the 19th century, around 300 homes were built in Brush Park, including 70 Victorian mansions. However, the neighborhood began to decline in the late 19th and early 20th century, when the advent of streetcars and then automobiles allowed prosperous citizens to live farther from downtown. Early residents moved out, notably to up-and-coming neighborhoods such as Indian Village and Boston-Edison, and the neighborhood became less fashionable. During the Great Depression, many of the older mansions were subdivided into apartments, and as houses aged in the post-World War II era, some became unoccupied and fell into disrepair.

Brush Park's revival began in the 1990s and has accelerated recently. A number of the older mansions have been restored, and more have been stabilized. In addition, new condominiums have been built in the southern part of Brush Park, near the Fisher Freeway. Brush Park Historic District's general boundaries are Woodward Avenue, Mack, Beaubien, and the Fisher Freeway.

Architecture

Name	Image	Year	Location	Style	Architect	Notes
Bonstelle Theatre		1902	3424 Woodward Ave.	Beaux Arts	Albert Kahn, C. Howard Crane	When Rabbi Leo M. Franklin first began leading services of Detroit's Temple Beth El in 1899, he felt that the construction of a new temple building on Detroit's "Piety Row" stretch of Woodward would increase the visibility and prestige on Detroit's Jewish community. Groundbreaking began on November 25, 1901, with the ceremonial cornerstone laid on April 23, 1902. The structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Brownstones		1890	John R.	Richardsonian Romanesque		Renovated as condominiums in 2003.
Frederick Butler House		1882	291 Edmund Pl.	French Renaissance Revival, Second Empire		Built in 1882, the Frederick Butler House at 291 Edmund Place is a French Renaissance Second Empire style mansion with a Mansard roof which was restored in 2006 and contains 8,400 sq ft (780 m2). It is located near Edmund Pl. and Brush St. within the Woodward East Historic District. The original ownwer, Frederick Butler, was a banker. It is presently known as Edmund Place.
James V. Campbell House		1877	261 Alfred St.	Italianate		This house is within the Woodward East Historic District.
The Carlton		1923	2915 John R. at Edmund	Beaux Arts, Chicago School	Louis Kamper	Renovated as condominiums.
Carola Building		1912	78 Watson St.	Renaissance Revival		Renovated as condominiums. Pictured to the left of the Devon.
Lyman Cochrane House		1870	216 Winder St.	Italianate		This house is a relatively rare example of residential Italianate architecture in Detroit. It was originally built for eye doctor John Terry, but in 1871 was sold to Judge Lyman Cochrane. Cochrane was a state senator and Superior Court Judge, serving in this capacity until his death in 1879.
Crystal lofts		1919	3100 Woodward at Watson	Art Deco		The Art Deco façade was added to the building in 1936. Renovated as condominiums.
The Devon		1905	64 Watson St.	Art Deco		Renovated as condominiums in 2011.
John P. Fiske House		1876	261 Edmund Pl.	Second Empire, French Renaissance Revival, Victorian		John P. Fiske was a Detroit merchant of china and crockery. The house is within the Woodward East Historic District.
Ransom Gillis House		1876	205 Alfred and John R.	Venetian Gothic	Henry T. Brush & George D. Mason	This house has been heavily documented by John Kossik and photographed by documentarian Camilo José Vergara. The house is within the Woodward East Historic District.
Bernard Ginsburg House		1898	236 Adelaide St.	Tudor Revival	George W. Nettleton & Albert Kahn	Bernard Ginsburg was an important figure in philanthropy, civic service, and the Jewish community in Detroit during the late 19th and early 20th century. He commissioned architect Albert Kahn to design this house, one of Kahn's earliest works. Kahn went on to become well-known in industrial and commercial architecture; the Ginsburg house and its English Renaissance style exhibited is typical of Kahn's early work. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
John Harvey House		1887	97 Winder St.	Second Empire	John V. Smith	John Harvey was a pharmacist and philanthropist. The house contains 11,000 square feet (1,000 m2), eight marble fireplaces, and three-story staircase. Devolopers purchased the John Harvey House in 1986, renovated the structure, and, in 2005, opened it as the Inn at 97 Winder, a bed and breakfast. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
J.P. Donaldson, David C. Whitney House		1870s	82 Alfred St.	Queen Anne	Gordon W. Lloyd	Originally 36 Alfred, 82 Alfred was built in the 1870s for J. P. Donaldson. In 1892, David C. Whitney acquired the home, which was completely renovated by Gordon W. Lloyd. At the time it was said to be one of the most substantial homes in Detroit and valued at $30,000 (today $750,000±). The home had several other owners before becoming a rooming house. Today it is used again as a single family residence.
Hudson-Evans House		1872	79 Alfred St.	Second Empire, French Renaissance Revival, Italianate	Unknown	Also known as the Joseph Lothian Hudson House or the Grace Whitney Evans House. The house was a gift from David Whitney Jr. to his daughter Grace upon her marriage to John Evans in 1872. It later became the J.L. Hudson family residence. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Albert Kahn House		1906	208 Mack Ave.	English Renaissance	Albert Kahn	In 1906, architect Albert Kahn built a home for his personal use. He lived in the home from 1906 until his death in 1942. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
George Ladve House		1882	269 Edmund Pl.	Eastlake Victorian		Originally owned by George Ladve, 269 Edmund Pl., an Eastlake Victorian style mansion built in 1882 and restored in 2008, contains 7,400 sq ft (690 m2). Ladve had owned a carpet and upholstery company. In the late 1890s, the Frohlich family added a music room. Frohlich was among the original philanthropists to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The house is within the Woodward East Historic District.
The Lamar			Watson and John R.	Renaissance Revival		Condominums.
William Livingstone House		1893	294 Eliot St.	French Renaissance	Albert Kahn	Constructed in 1893, the Livingstone house was among the oldest historic properties that had fallen into disrepair; it was demolished September 15, 2007. Livingstone hired architect Albert Kahn who was working for the George Mason-Zachariah Rice firm. When he obtained this commission – presumably with Mason’s help – Kahn was only 22 or 23 years old and had just returned from spending 1891 in Europe studying the classical architecture of the Old World. Kahn's decision to design in a French Renaissance mode for the home reflected the time he spent sketching the best Gallic architecture.
Lucien Moore House		1885	104 Edmund Pl.	French Renaissance Revival, Gothic Revival		Originally owned by lumber baron Lucien Moore, 104 Edmund Place, designed in a French Renaissance Gothic Revival style and restored in 2006, has 7,000 sq ft (650 m2). The Lucien Moore House restoration was featured December 27, 2005 by HGTV's restore America Initiative in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Presently known as the Moorie Town House.
H.P. Pulling House			48 Edmund Pl.	Victorian
Emanuel Schloss House		1870	234 Winder St.	Second Empire		Emanuel Schloss was a dry goods merchant and haberdasher in Detroit. In 1870, he built one of the best examples of a Second Empire home that still exists in Detroit. The home has been restored and now operates as the 234 Winder Street Inn.
Elisha Taylor House		1870	59 Alfred St.	French Renaissance Revival, Second Empire, Victorian, Gothic Revival	Unknown	The Elisha Taylor House, with its French Renaissance Revival, Second Empire mansard roof, has distinct elements of Victorian and Gothic Revival style and was built for William H. Craig, a Detroit land speculator. In 1875, Craig sold the house to attorney Elisha Taylor. Taylor was a Detroit attorney who held many offices during his career, including City Attorney, assistant Michigan Attorney General from 1837 to 1841, and Circuit Court Commissioner from 1846 to 1854. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Joseph F. Weber House		1901	206 Eliot St.	Georgian		Originally owned by lumber baron Joseph F. Weber, 206 Eliot is a Georgian style house.
Woodward Place		2001	Brush Park	Contemporary Colonial		Contemporary Colonial loft style condominium development.
First Presbyterian Church		1889	2930 Woodward Ave.	Richardsonian Romanesque	George D. Mason	George D. Mason modeled the First Presbyterian Church after Henry Hobson Richardson's Trinity Church in Boston. When Woodward was widened in 1936, the elaborately-carved entrance porch was moved from the Woodward facade to the Edmund Place side. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
First Unitarian Church of Detroit		1890	2870 Woodward Ave. at Edmund	Richardsonian Romanesque	Donaldson and Meier	This church was dedicated in November, 1890. The congregation used the church until 1936, when the widening of Woodward Avenue required a remodelling of the church. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Education

Brush Park is within the Detroit Public Schools district. Residents are zoned to Spain Elementary School for K-8, while they are zoned to Martin Luther King High School (9-12) for high school.