4 Examples of Historic Homes in Detroit Michigan

The city of Detroit saw a boom in housing construction in the early 20th century as droves of people moved to the Motor City for good-paying jobs and a chance at the American dream. Hundreds of these historic homes still exist, and their presence adds greatly to the architectural scene in Detroit. Below are four examples of historic homes in Detroit you should visit.

You might be surprised to learn that many of the American Four Square and Craftsman Bungalow homes you drive by in Detroit were ordered as a kit in the 1920s and 30s out of the Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog. According to Popular Mechanics, Sears sold at least 70,000 homes out of its catalog between 1908 and 1940. Customers could choose from 447 styles across a variety of budgets. These homes can be found today lined up in a row in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood of East Detroit.

Another way to visit a historic home is to pop into the lobby of homes refashioned as a hotel. The former John Harvey House in historic Brush Park is now known as the Inn at 97 Winder. The building fell on hard times during the Great Depression, becoming a boarding house let out room by room. The property was fortunately revitalized in the 1980s. Today it is a four-star quality, luxury hotel tastefully decorated with artwork from around the world.

Where does a masked hero on a horse out of the Wild West come together with a Weimar Germany art movement? In Detroit, of course, where the actual Lone Ranger was the first owner of this highly-prized Bauhaus home in Huntington Woods. The Lone Ranger did not forget his horse. He used the garage as a stable and fed the animal its hay through a side window. Bauhaus–running consecutively with Art Deco, of which Detroit is replete with masterpieces–was an art movement born in reaction to the devastation of World War I. Bauhaus promoted good design for everybody and art education for the common man, no longer just for the elites. Apparently, the concept appealed to the always fair-minded Lone Ranger.

The Granddaddy of historic Detroit homes must surely be the Ford family estate, Fair Lane, in the western suburb of Dearborn. The Fords lived there until 1950. Bikers and walkers may use the grounds for free. The property has its own hydroelectric dam and powerhouse that may also be visited.

You can't order up a home out of the Sears catalog any longer. How should you find your dream home today? Online, of course, such as the new home communities throughout Metro Detroit listed on the Robertson Homes website. Many customers are being drawn inwards to new condo and townhouse projects in historic and walkable neighborhoods. Contact us today to learn about our new homes in Detroit.