Marcus Burrowes
Encyclopedia
Marcus R. Burrowes was a notable Detroit architect. He served one year in the position of president of the Michigan Society of Architects and was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects
(AIA). He was widely known in southeast Michigan, especially during the second and third decades of the twentieth century, for his recreation of English Revival style buildings.
Burrowes was born in Tonawanda
, N.Y., near Buffalo. Burrowes attended the Denver Art Academy, where he attended lectures and received instruction by architects of note, as well as serving an apprenticeship to a leading architectural firm in Denver. In the 1890s, Burrowes work took him to Canada, where he was employed in the chief architects office of the Dominion at Ottawa
, specializing in post office buildings. From Canada, he crossed the Detroit River to Detroit, a place suitable for an entrepreneurial architect like Burrowes.
Initially, Burrowes worked in the offices of Albert Kahn. In 1907, he joined the firm of Stratton and Baldwin for two years, which put him into contact with leading figures in the Arts and Crafts movement in Detroit, including Kahn, William B. Stratton, Frank C. Baldwin, and George Booth. Through Stratton's connections with Mary Chase Perry Stratton of Pewabic Pottery
, Burrowes gained exposure to this important Detroit-based firm as well.
However, deciding his future was to be in independent practice, Burrowes formed the firm of Burrowes and Wells with Dalton R. Wells. By 1914, Burrowes was operating under his own name. In 1920 he joined with Frank Eurich, who had received training in the architecture program from Cornell University
. Together, Burrowes and Eurich designed many homes in Grosse Pointe and Detroit, as well as several libraries and municipal buildings.
During his lifetime, Burrowes was recognized by his fellow architects. He served as president of the Detroit Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1916-1917; vice-president of the Detroit Chapter in 1923, and secretary from 1911-1915. He served as president of the Michigan Society of Architects in 1923-1924. In 1940, he was made a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and became Emeritus in 1952. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and the Detroit Athletic Club
.
Burrowes died at the age of 79 at his home in London, Ontario
, which he had retired to eight months previous. His obituary in the Detroit Free Press
in 1953, stated how "he designed more than 1,000 structures in and near Detroit during his long career."
Libraries
Schools and Civic Complexes
Starr Commonwealth, outside Albion, Michigan
Design of 11 buildings and campus landscape plan
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
(AIA). He was widely known in southeast Michigan, especially during the second and third decades of the twentieth century, for his recreation of English Revival style buildings.
Burrowes was born in Tonawanda
Tonawanda (town), New York
Tonawanda is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 78,155. The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern suburb of Buffalo...
, N.Y., near Buffalo. Burrowes attended the Denver Art Academy, where he attended lectures and received instruction by architects of note, as well as serving an apprenticeship to a leading architectural firm in Denver. In the 1890s, Burrowes work took him to Canada, where he was employed in the chief architects office of the Dominion at Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, specializing in post office buildings. From Canada, he crossed the Detroit River to Detroit, a place suitable for an entrepreneurial architect like Burrowes.
Initially, Burrowes worked in the offices of Albert Kahn. In 1907, he joined the firm of Stratton and Baldwin for two years, which put him into contact with leading figures in the Arts and Crafts movement in Detroit, including Kahn, William B. Stratton, Frank C. Baldwin, and George Booth. Through Stratton's connections with Mary Chase Perry Stratton of Pewabic Pottery
Pewabic Pottery
Pewabic Pottery is a studio and school located in Detroit, Michigan and founded in 1903. The studio is known for its iridescent glazes, some of which grace notable buildings such as the Shedd Aquarium and Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Pewabic Pottery is on display...
, Burrowes gained exposure to this important Detroit-based firm as well.
However, deciding his future was to be in independent practice, Burrowes formed the firm of Burrowes and Wells with Dalton R. Wells. By 1914, Burrowes was operating under his own name. In 1920 he joined with Frank Eurich, who had received training in the architecture program from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. Together, Burrowes and Eurich designed many homes in Grosse Pointe and Detroit, as well as several libraries and municipal buildings.
During his lifetime, Burrowes was recognized by his fellow architects. He served as president of the Detroit Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1916-1917; vice-president of the Detroit Chapter in 1923, and secretary from 1911-1915. He served as president of the Michigan Society of Architects in 1923-1924. In 1940, he was made a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and became Emeritus in 1952. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and the Detroit Athletic Club
Detroit Athletic Club
The Detroit Athletic Club , is a private social club and athletic club located in the heart of Detroit's theater, sports, and entertainment district. The clubhouse was designed by Albert Kahn and inspired by Rome's Palazzo Farnese. It maintains reciprocal agreements for their members at other...
.
Burrowes died at the age of 79 at his home in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, which he had retired to eight months previous. His obituary in the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
in 1953, stated how "he designed more than 1,000 structures in and near Detroit during his long career."
Selected commissions
| Name | City | State/Country | Year Designed | Built | Other Information | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiram Walker and Sons, Customs Office Building | Walkerville | Ontario, Canada | 1910 | (Burrowes and Wells) | |||
| Cranbrook Service Quarters, Garages | Bloomfield Hills | Michigan | 1911 | ||||
| H.R. Dingwell Home | Walkerville | Ontario, Canada | 1912 | Devonshire Road | |||
| Hiram Walker Home | Walkerville | Ontario, Canada | 1912 | Devonshire Road | |||
| Cranbrook Greek Theatre | Bloomfield Hills | Michigan | 1915-1916 | ||||
| Warren Booth Home | Bloomfield Hills | Michigan | Lone Pine Road | ||||
| Grace Booth Wallace Home | |||||||
| Brookside School | Bloomfield Hills | Michigan | Evergreen Road(with Henry Scripps Booth) | ||||
| W.G. Morley House | Bloomfield Hills | Michigan | Lone Pine Road | ||||
| David A. Brown House | Detroit | Michigan | East Boston Boulevard | ||||
| C.B. Tuttle House | Detroit | Michigan | Hamilton Drive | ||||
| Victor F. Dewey House | Detroit | Michigan | Hamilton Drive | ||||
| A.L. McCarthy House | Detroit | Michigan | Hamilton Drive | ||||
| William Locke House | Detroit | Michigan | Hamilton Drive | ||||
| Percy A. Barnard House | Detroit | Michigan | Fairway Drive | ||||
| Warren Booth Home | Detroit | Michigan | 1922 | 2950 Iroquois | |||
| Henry L. Pierson, Sr. House | Detroit | Michigan | 1915 | 2530 Iroquois | |||
| Mrs. Walter Jennings' Home | Detroit | Michigan | 2455 Iroquois | ||||
| Herman Strasburg House Herman Strasburg House The Herman Strasburg House is located at 5415 Cass Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is now known as the Wayne State University Music Annex. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.- History :... |
Detroit | Michigan | 1915 | 5415 Cass |  |
||
| 2243 Iroquois | Detroit | Michigan | 1917 | ||||
| Newton Annis Home | Detroit | Michigan | 2168 Burns | ||||
| 1432 Burns | Detroit | Michigan | |||||
| Miss Jeannette McMillan Liggett Home | Detroit | Michigan | Burns | ||||
| S. Kemp Pittman, Sr. Home | Detroit | Michigan | 1912 | 1782 Seminole | |||
| 2454 Seminole | Detroit | Michigan | |||||
| Paul Gray House | Detroit | Michigan | 1910 | 1710 Seminole | |||
| Ralph Harmon Booth Home | Grosse Pointe | Michigan | 1924 | 315 Washington | |||
| Berrien C. Eaton Home | Grosse Pointe | Michigan | Bishop Road | ||||
| Edward S. Caulkins Home | Grosse Pointe | Michigan | Hendrie Lane | ||||
| H. Robert Stoepel Home | Grosse Pointe | Michigan | |||||
| L.T. Bulkley Home | Grosse Pointe | Michigan | Edgemont Park | ||||
| Charles B. Crouse Home, Cadieux and Maumee | Grosse Pointe | Michigan | |||||
| Edward G. Burlage Home | Grosse Pointe | Michigan | Harvard Road | ||||
| Henry T. Cole Home | Grosse Pointe | Michigan | Lakeland | ||||
| Addition to Palmer Sherman House | Farmington | Michigan | Farmington Road | ||||
| Burbrook | Farmington | Michigan | 1924 | residence of Marcus R. Burrowes, 24300 Locust Drive | |||
| David Gray House David Gray House David Gray House, built in 1812, is a historic house at 232 Salem Street in Andover, Massachusetts, United States.It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.... |
Farmington Hills | Michigan | in present-day Heritage Park | ||||
| Windy Hill Windy Hill Windy Hill may refer to:*Windy Hill, Essendon, an Australian rules football ground in the Melbourne area*Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, a regional park in the San Francisco Bay Area*Windy Hill, Wrexham.... |
Farmington | Michigan | Kirby White House, Eleven Mile Road | ||||
| Biddestone Biddestone Biddestone is a small, rural and rather picturesque Cotswold village in north west Wiltshire, England, with a population of 457 in 2001. It is situated near Castle Combe, Corsham, Giddeahall and Chippenham.... |
1937 | ||||||
| C.W. Hubbell | Milford | Michigan | 1923 | 1937 | |||
Libraries
- Gabriel Richard Library, Stoepel and Grand River, Detroit
- Redford Village Hall (Redford Library), Six Mile and Grand River, 1928
- Duffield Branch of the Detroit Public Library, West Grand Boulevard and Lunedin
- Francis Parkman Branch of the Detroit Public Library, 1726 Oakman, Blvd, Detroit, 1931
- McGregor Library, Woodward Avenue, Highland Park (Local associated architects. Building designed by Tilton & Githens of New York)
Schools and Civic Complexes
- Wayne County Training School, near Northville
- Barber School, Highland Park
- Highland Park Athletic Fieldhouse, Highland Park
- Grosse Pointe High School, Grosse Pointe
- Grosse Pointe Cottage School, Grosse Pointe
- Grosse Pointe Hunt Club Clubhouse, Grosse Pointe
- Grosse Pointe Golf Clubhouse, Grosse Pointe
- Peoples' State Bank, Detroit
- Remodeling of Greenmeade, Eight Mile Road, Livonia
- Grand Lawn Cemetery entrance, Grand River just east of Telegraph Road
- Methodist Children's Village, Six Mile Road, Redford
- YMCA, Highland Park
- YWCA, Highland Park
- Grosse Pointe Municipal Building
- Springwells Town Hall, later Dearborn City Hall
- Birmingham Civic Complex, Birmingham, 1921-1922
Starr Commonwealth, outside Albion, Michigan
Design of 11 buildings and campus landscape plan
- Newton Hall, Starr Commonwealth, 1915
- Emily Jewell Clark Building, Starr Commonwealth, 1917
- Wilcox Cottage, Starr Commonwealth
- Hillside, later Payne Family Cottage, Starr Commonwealth, 1920
- Webster Hall, Starr Commonwealth, 1934
- Inglis-Medelssohn Cottage, Starr Commonwealth
- Chapel in the Woods, Starr Commonwealth, 1949
- Breuckner Museum and Art Gallery, Starr Commonwealth, 1952
- Designs for Candler Hall, Kresge Cottage, Norton Family Cottage, Starr Commonwealth - all built after Burrowes death