Croul-Palms House
Encyclopedia
The Croul-Palms House is a private residence located at 1394 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan
. The house is named after its first two owners, Jerome Croul and Francis Palms. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983.
In 1881, Jerome Croul commissioned William Scott to build this house at a cost of $25,000. Croul was a successful merchant of woolens and sheepskins, owning (with his brother William) the firm of Croul Brothers. Croul was also a Detroit Fire Commissioner.
In 1887, Croul sold the house to Celimene Palms, the wife of Francis. Francis Palms was a major Detroit landowner, inheriting a substantial fortune from his father. Francis died in 1905, but his wife continued to live in the house until her death in 1914. The structure was converted into a boarding house with 25 rooms. The Palms family continued to own the house through their realty company until 1945. In 1954, the house was again converted into an apartment building with eight apartments. In 1983, the house was restored for use as office space.
There was originally a two-story brick barn behind the house, built a year after the house itself; the barn was demolished in 1954.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The house is named after its first two owners, Jerome Croul and Francis Palms. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983.
History
In 1887, Croul sold the house to Celimene Palms, the wife of Francis. Francis Palms was a major Detroit landowner, inheriting a substantial fortune from his father. Francis died in 1905, but his wife continued to live in the house until her death in 1914. The structure was converted into a boarding house with 25 rooms. The Palms family continued to own the house through their realty company until 1945. In 1954, the house was again converted into an apartment building with eight apartments. In 1983, the house was restored for use as office space.
Description
The Croul-Palms house boasts irregular massing, contrasting materials, and a picturesque roofline, all details characteristic of Queen Anne architecture. The house is 2½ stories, and is constructed from red brick on a rock-faced stone foundation. There are additional curved stone details, as well as stone banding and stone window hoods. The house has bay windows stretching the full three stories, and the multi-planed roof boasts projecting gables and decorative chimney caps. The exterior of the houseis original but for the demoltion of front and side porches and a small third-floor balconet, and the replacement of the slate roof.There was originally a two-story brick barn behind the house, built a year after the house itself; the barn was demolished in 1954.