East Jefferson Avenue Residential TR
Encyclopedia
The East Jefferson Avenue Residential District in Detroit, Michigan
includes the Thematic Resource (TR) in the multiple property submission to the National Register of Historic Places
which was approved on October 9, 1985. The structures are single-family and multiple-unit residential buildings with construction dates spanning nearly a century, from 1835 to 1931. The area is located on the lower east side of the city.
east of Detroit, connecting the French ribbon farm
s to Ste. Anne Street in the heart of Detroit. After the disastrous fire of 1805, Judge Augustus Woodward platted out a new design for the city, widening Ste. Anne St. and renaming it (and the connecting River Road) "Jefferson Avenue" in honor of Thomas Jefferson
.
Jefferson quickly became the commercial nexus of Detroit; by 1820 over half the businesses on the city were located on the avenue. Additionally, many prominent Detroit residents of the time lived along Jefferson, including Charles Christopher Trowbridge
, William Hull
, Solomon Sibley
, John R. Williams
, Antoine Dequindre, Joseph Campau, Oliver Newberry, and Oliver Miller
. As Detroit grew and city services expanded, Jefferson was one of the first streets to obtain new installations, getting iron water pipes in 1838, a horse-drawn bus line in 1847, horse-drawn rail in 1863, electric arc lighting in 1883, and asphalt pavement in 1892.
After the Civil War
, many newly prosperous Detroit citizens built prestigious homes along Jefferson in a variety of popular architectural styles, including Gothic Revival, Richardsonian Romanesque
, Queen Anne
, and Italianate.
As the 19th century drew to a close and the 20th century began, the area around Jefferson Avenue became more industrialized. Wealthy residents, spurred by the availability of streetcar lines (and later, the automobiles) moved farther from the city center, leaving Jefferson Avenue behind. However, the booming city economy and influx of new residents in the 1910s increased demand for new housing. East Jefferson Avenue became an epicenter for new luxury apartment buildings, built particularly in the 1920s and 1930s.
Following World War II
, East Jefferson became more commercial with the introduction of modern commercial structures. Yet, East Jefferson contains clusters of preserved historic structures.
The structures included are as follows:
In addition, the following nine residential structures were previously listed on the NRHP, either individually or as part of an historic district:
The first group includes the single-family residences built by prominent Detroit citizens before the Civil War. This group includes the Joseph Campau House
(1835) and the Alexander Chene House
(1855) listed in this T.R., as well as the Charles Trowbridge House
(1826) and the Moross House
(1855), both listed on the NRHP at an earlier date. These structures are distinguished by their relatively modest appearance, although at the time of their construction they were fashionable homes housing prominent Detroit citizens.
The second group includes the single-family residences built by wealthy Detroiters in the latter part of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. This group includes the John N. Bagley House
(1889), the William H. Wells House
(1889), the Franklin H. Walker House
(1896), the Arthur M. Parker House
(1901), and the Frederick K. Stearns House
(1902), all listed in this T.R., as well as the Thomas A. Parker House
(1868), the Croul-Palms House
(1881), and homes in the Indian Village Historic District which were listed on the NRHP at an earlier date. These architect-designed structures are distinguished by their elaborate and expensive construction and exemplification of popular architectural styles.
The third group includes the large-scale luxury apartment buildings built in the early 20th century. These large, luxurious apartment building were the first multiple-unit structures to make inroads into the previously exclusive single-family residential East Jefferson neighborhood, with the Pasadena Apartments
(1902) and The Palms
(1903) being the earliest examples. The larger apartment buildings continued to be constructed along Jefferson, with the much larger Garden Court Apartments (1915), the Whittier Hotel
(1922/1926), and the Alden Park Towers
(1922) built over the next two decades, and The Kean
(1931) built just as the Great Depression halted construction for years. These structures are distinguished by their relatively large size and (originally) sizable and luxurious apartments.
The fourth group includes the more modest (but still well-appointed) smaller scale apartment buildings constructed in the 1910s and 1920s to cater to more upper-middle-class tenants such as automobile company workers and professionals. This group includes the Manchester Apartments (1915), Jefferson Hall
(1916), the Ponchartrain Apartments
(1920), the Chateau Frontenac Apartments
(1925), the Somerset Apartments
(1922), and the Hibbard Apartment Building
(1924). These structures are distinguished by their smaller scale and less well-appointed but still high quality rooms.
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"....
includes the Thematic Resource (TR) in the multiple property submission to 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...
which was approved on October 9, 1985. The structures are single-family and multiple-unit residential buildings with construction dates spanning nearly a century, from 1835 to 1931. The area is located on the lower east side of the city.
History
The road that is now East Jefferson Avenue existed from the earliest days of Detroit. Then known as the "River Road," it paralleled the Detroit RiverDetroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
east of Detroit, connecting the French ribbon farm
Ribbon farm
Ribbon farms are long, narrow land divisions, usually lined up along a waterway. In some instances, they line a road.-Description:...
s to Ste. Anne Street in the heart of Detroit. After the disastrous fire of 1805, Judge Augustus Woodward platted out a new design for the city, widening Ste. Anne St. and renaming it (and the connecting River Road) "Jefferson Avenue" in honor of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
.
Jefferson quickly became the commercial nexus of Detroit; by 1820 over half the businesses on the city were located on the avenue. Additionally, many prominent Detroit residents of the time lived along Jefferson, including Charles Christopher Trowbridge
Charles Christopher Trowbridge
Charles Christopher Trowbridge was an explorer, politician, businessman, and ethnographer of Native American cultures who lived in Detroit during the 19th century...
, William Hull
William Hull
William Hull was an American soldier and politician. He fought in the American Revolution, was Governor of Michigan Territory, and was a general in the War of 1812, for which he is best remembered for surrendering Fort Detroit to the British.- Early life and Revolutionary War :He was born in...
, Solomon Sibley
Solomon Sibley
Solomon Sibley was a United States politician and jurist in the Michigan Territory.-Early life: 1769–1815:...
, John R. Williams
John R. Williams
John R Williams was an American soldier, merchant, and politician who is most well known for serving as the first mayor of Detroit, Michigan. In total, he served as Detroit's mayor for five other terms...
, Antoine Dequindre, Joseph Campau, Oliver Newberry, and Oliver Miller
Oliver Miller
Oliver J. Miller is an American former professional basketball player.-Career:After graduating from the University of Arkansas, Miller, who is known as "The Big O" because of his large size , was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the 22nd overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft...
. As Detroit grew and city services expanded, Jefferson was one of the first streets to obtain new installations, getting iron water pipes in 1838, a horse-drawn bus line in 1847, horse-drawn rail in 1863, electric arc lighting in 1883, and asphalt pavement in 1892.
After the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, many newly prosperous Detroit citizens built prestigious homes along Jefferson in a variety of popular architectural styles, including Gothic Revival, Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
, Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
, and Italianate.
Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, East Jefferson became more commercial with the introduction of modern commercial structures. Yet, East Jefferson contains clusters of preserved historic structures.
Architecture
The Thematic Resource includes twenty-eight architecturally and historically significant structures, stretching along a scenic three-mile section of East Jefferson Avenue beginning just east of downtown Detroit. Each of the structures included are, in some way, representative of the "high style" architecture of the period. The structures listed have a high degree of architectural integrity, with building alteration primarily confined to interior remodeling or additions; in all buildings, the Jefferson Avenue facade remains substantially intact. Four of the historic structures along East Jefferson listed on the T.R. have were demolished after their addition to the Register.The structures included are as follows:
| Resource Name | Image | Address | Built | Architect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alden Park Towers Alden Park Towers The Alden Park Towers is an apartment building located at 8100 East Jefferson in Detroit, Michigan. It is also known as Alden Park Manor. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Description :... |
 |
8100 East Jefferson Avenue | 1923 | Edwin Rorke | |
| John N. Bagley House John N. Bagley House The John N. Bagley House is a private residence located at 2921 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Architecture :... |
 |
2921 East Jefferson Avenue | 1889 | Rogers and MacFarlane | |
| Joseph Campau House Joseph Campau House The Joseph Campau House is a private residence located at 2910 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985... |
 |
2910 East Jefferson Avenue | 1835 | Unknown | |
| Garden Court Apartments |  |
2900 East Jefferson Avenue | 1915 | Albert Kahn | |
| Hibbard Apartment Building Hibbard Apartment Building The Hibbard Apartment Building is an apartment building located at 8905 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, directly adjacent to The Kean. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Description :... |
 |
8905 East Jefferson Avenue | 1924 | Robert O. Derrick | |
| The Kean The Kean The Kean is an apartment building located at 8925 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, directly adjacent to the Hibbard Apartment Building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Description :... |
 |
8925 East Jefferson Avenue | 1931 | Charles Noble | |
| Manchester Apartments |  |
2016 East Jefferson Avenue | 1915 | Unknown | |
| The Palms Palms Apartments The Palms is an apartment building located at 1001 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was one of the first buildings in the US to use reinforced concrete as one of its major construction materials... |
 |
1001 East Jefferson Avenue | 1903 | Albert Kahn | |
| Arthur M. Parker House Arthur M. Parker House The Arthur M. Parker House is a located at 8115 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, directly adjacent to the Frederick K. Stearns House. It is also known as the Parker House. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.... |
 |
8115 East Jefferson Avenue | 1901 | Malcomson & Higginbotham | |
| Pasadena Apartments Pasadena Apartments The Pasadena Apartments is an apartment building located at 2170 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Description :... |
 |
2170 East Jefferson Avenue | 1902 | Mortimer L. Smith & Sons | |
| Somerset Apartments Somerset Apartments The Somerset Apartments is an apartment building located at 1523 E. Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is also known as the Parkcrest Apartment Building... |
 |
1523 East Jefferson Avenue | 1922 | Unknown | |
| Frederick K. Stearns House Frederick K. Stearns House The Frederick K. Stearns House is a home located at 8109 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, directly adjacent to the Arthur M. Parker House. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Description :... |
 |
8109 East Jefferson Avenue | 1902 | Stratton & Baldwin | |
| William H. Wells House William H. Wells House The William H. Wells House is a private residence located at 2931 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Architecture :... |
 |
2931 East Jefferson Avenue | 1889 | William Henry Miller William Henry Miller (architect) William Henry Miller was an American architect and the first graduate of the architecture school at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.Born in 1848 in Trenton, New York, Miller graduated from Cornell in 1872... |
|
| The Whittier |  |
415 Burns Drive | 1922, 1926 | Charles N. Agree Charles N. Agree Charles Nathanial Agree was an architect who held his practice in Detroit, Michigan.Agree moved to Detroit in 1909 at the age of 12. He began his firm in 1917, after he graduated from the Detroit Y.M.C.A Technical School. His first major commission came in 1921 to build the Whittier Hotel near... |
In addition, the following nine residential structures were previously listed on the NRHP, either individually or as part of an historic district:
| Resource Name | Image | Address | Built | Architect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croul-Palms House Croul-Palms House 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.... |
 |
1394 East Jefferson Avenue | 1881 | William Scott | |
| Thomas A. Parker House Thomas A. Parker House The Thomas A. Parker House was built as a private residence located at 975 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It is currently the law offices of Macuga, Liddle & Dubin, P.C.... |
 |
975 East Jefferson Avenue | 1868 | Gordon W. Lloyd | |
| Charles Trowbridge House Charles Trowbridge House The Charles C. Trowbridge House is located at 1380 E. Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is the oldest building in the city of Detroit, and was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.- History :Charles Christopher... |
 |
1380 East Jefferson Avenue | 1826 | Unknown | Oldest surviving building in Detroit. |
| Moross House Moross House The Moross House is a house located at 1460 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is the oldest surviving brick house in the city, and was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.... |
 |
1460 East Jefferson Avenue | 1855 | Unknown | |
| Edwin Nelson House |  |
8311 East Jefferson Avenue | Part of the Indian Village Historic District | ||
| James Hamilton House |  |
8325 East Jefferson Avenue | Part of the Indian Village Historic District | ||
| William F. Harris House |  |
8335 East Jefferson Avenue | Part of the Indian Village Historic District | ||
| Mary S. Smith House |  |
8445 East Jefferson Avenue | Part of the Indian Village Historic District | ||
| James Burgess Book Jr. House |  |
8469 East Jefferson Avenue | Part of the Indian Village Historic District. |
Significance
The structures in this Thematic Resource vary greatly in style, construction, and use, but all are related by the common theme of residential development and general upper-class nature. Each of the structures included are, in some way, representative of the "high style" architecture of the period. The structures are divided into four groups, according to their original use and construction date.The first group includes the single-family residences built by prominent Detroit citizens before the Civil War. This group includes the Joseph Campau House
Joseph Campau House
The Joseph Campau House is a private residence located at 2910 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985...
(1835) and the Alexander Chene House
Alexander Chene House
The Alexander Chêne House was built as a private residence located at 2681 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1986, but subsequently demolished in April 1991.- Description...
(1855) listed in this T.R., as well as the Charles Trowbridge House
Charles Trowbridge House
The Charles C. Trowbridge House is located at 1380 E. Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is the oldest building in the city of Detroit, and was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.- History :Charles Christopher...
(1826) and the Moross House
Moross House
The Moross House is a house located at 1460 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is the oldest surviving brick house in the city, and was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972....
(1855), both listed on the NRHP at an earlier date. These structures are distinguished by their relatively modest appearance, although at the time of their construction they were fashionable homes housing prominent Detroit citizens.
The second group includes the single-family residences built by wealthy Detroiters in the latter part of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. This group includes the John N. Bagley House
John N. Bagley House
The John N. Bagley House is a private residence located at 2921 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Architecture :...
(1889), the William H. Wells House
William H. Wells House
The William H. Wells House is a private residence located at 2931 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Architecture :...
(1889), the Franklin H. Walker House
Franklin H. Walker House
The Franklin H. Walker House was a private residence located at 2730 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was also known as Doctor's Hospital. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, but subsequently demolished.- Description :The Franklin H...
(1896), the Arthur M. Parker House
Arthur M. Parker House
The Arthur M. Parker House is a located at 8115 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, directly adjacent to the Frederick K. Stearns House. It is also known as the Parker House. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985....
(1901), and the Frederick K. Stearns House
Frederick K. Stearns House
The Frederick K. Stearns House is a home located at 8109 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, directly adjacent to the Arthur M. Parker House. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Description :...
(1902), all listed in this T.R., as well as the Thomas A. Parker House
Thomas A. Parker House
The Thomas A. Parker House was built as a private residence located at 975 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It is currently the law offices of Macuga, Liddle & Dubin, P.C....
(1868), the Croul-Palms House
Croul-Palms House
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....
(1881), and homes in the Indian Village Historic District which were listed on the NRHP at an earlier date. These architect-designed structures are distinguished by their elaborate and expensive construction and exemplification of popular architectural styles.
The third group includes the large-scale luxury apartment buildings built in the early 20th century. These large, luxurious apartment building were the first multiple-unit structures to make inroads into the previously exclusive single-family residential East Jefferson neighborhood, with the Pasadena Apartments
Pasadena Apartments
The Pasadena Apartments is an apartment building located at 2170 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Description :...
(1902) and The Palms
Palms Apartments
The Palms is an apartment building located at 1001 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was one of the first buildings in the US to use reinforced concrete as one of its major construction materials...
(1903) being the earliest examples. The larger apartment buildings continued to be constructed along Jefferson, with the much larger Garden Court Apartments (1915), the Whittier Hotel
Whittier Hotel
The Whittier is a renovated high rise residential complex and former hotel located at 415 Burns Drive in Detroit, Michigan, on the Detroit River. It is also known as the Whittier Apartments...
(1922/1926), and the Alden Park Towers
Alden Park Towers
The Alden Park Towers is an apartment building located at 8100 East Jefferson in Detroit, Michigan. It is also known as Alden Park Manor. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Description :...
(1922) built over the next two decades, and The Kean
The Kean
The Kean is an apartment building located at 8925 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, directly adjacent to the Hibbard Apartment Building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Description :...
(1931) built just as the Great Depression halted construction for years. These structures are distinguished by their relatively large size and (originally) sizable and luxurious apartments.
The fourth group includes the more modest (but still well-appointed) smaller scale apartment buildings constructed in the 1910s and 1920s to cater to more upper-middle-class tenants such as automobile company workers and professionals. This group includes the Manchester Apartments (1915), Jefferson Hall
Jefferson Hall (Detroit, Michigan)
Jefferson Hall was an apartment building located at 1404 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, but subsequently demolished.- Description :...
(1916), the Ponchartrain Apartments
Ponchartrain Apartments
The Ponchartrain Apartments was an apartment building located at 1350 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was also known as the Renaissance Apartments...
(1920), the Chateau Frontenac Apartments
Chateau Frontenac Apartments
The Chateau Frontenac Apartments was an apartment building located at 10410 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, but was subsequently demolished.- Description :...
(1925), the Somerset Apartments
Somerset Apartments
The Somerset Apartments is an apartment building located at 1523 E. Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is also known as the Parkcrest Apartment Building...
(1922), and the Hibbard Apartment Building
Hibbard Apartment Building
The Hibbard Apartment Building is an apartment building located at 8905 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, directly adjacent to The Kean. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.- Description :...
(1924). These structures are distinguished by their smaller scale and less well-appointed but still high quality rooms.