I thought this community would appreciate a look inside a unique piece of Detroit history.
This is 19123 Parke Lane on Grosse Ile—the only surviving summer estate of Charles Fisher (co-founder of Fisher Body Co.). What makes it fascinating is that it was designed in 1928 by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls—the same firm that was simultaneously defining the Detroit skyline with the Guardian and Penobscot buildings.
Because it was built for automotive royalty, the construction is 'over-engineered' by modern standards. Local lore says it was built to 'General Motors specifications,' featuring reinforced concrete between the floors and a literal walk-in bank vault in the basement.
A few highlights for the locals:
The Views: You can see the Grosse Ile lighthouse and the Detroit City Skyline from the sun porch.
The Detail: Italian craftsmen lived on-site to hand-carve the grand staircase spindles.
The Preservation: It’s a true time capsule with 12-foot ceilings, original plaster medallions, and Carrara marble fireplaces.
It’s currently seeing a lot of buzz in the Historical Detroit Area Architecture community (Facebook) and was recently featured as the MLive House of the Week.
Has anyone else explored the historic homes at the northern tip of the island? The scale of these old auto-baron retreats is incredible.