Deming, Paul Harvey, House

The Paul Harvey Deming House, one of the first year round residences in Grosse Pointe Farms, was built c. 1907 for the vice president of the American State Bank of Detroit. The property, first inhabited by French farmers in the 1700s, was also the site of Grosse Pointe Farms' first summer cottages, built for two wealthy Detroiters in the late 1800s. The Deming House, also known as Cherryhurst, is a well preserved and significant example of the Tudor style of architecture and is one of the few remaining, unsubdivided properties. The community of Grosse Pointe Farms was first inhabited by French farmers, who settled along the shores of Lake St. Claire in the early 1700s. In order to take advantage of the favorable canoe access from the lake, as well as the convenient supply of water, the first dwellings were built close together along the perimeter of the lake shore. "The land of each farm extended from the lake far into the interior in narrow strips, thus originating the term 'ribbon farm.'" (Ferry) Grosse Pointe Farms continued to develop in the ribbon farm fashion, disregarding the typical grid-like system of surrounding towns. The main access route between Detroit and Grosse Pointe Farms was River Road. The road closely followed the Detroit River and the perimeter of Lake St. Claire. During the late 1800s, Detroit continued to develop into a thriving city and Grosse Pointe Farms became a popular resort area for prominent and wealthy Detroiters. They built their summer cottages along the water front, thus replacing the early French dwellings. Large estates were gradually subdivided and substantial year round homes and mansions were built between the summer cottages, Grosse Pointe Farms became a permanent and exclusive residential suburb of Detroit. This suburban growth was influenced by the new automobile and the improvement of River Road, which provided convenient year round access to the area. In November of 1913, the road was officially designated Lake Shore Road by the Grosse Pointe Farms Council. Since then, the road has also been incorrectly referred to as Lakeshore Drive. The eclectic architecture of Grosse Pointe Farms primarily drew inspiration from the historical styles of Europe. "In a community in which social prestige was a primary consideration, the historical styles were valued for their aristocratic implications ... (and significant in their) reflection of American taste." (Ferry) One such residence is Cherryhurst, the Paul Harvey Deming house. Built in the Tudor Revival style, Cherryhurst now stands on what was once part of the extensive grounds belonging to John S. Newberry and James McMillan, known as Lake Terrace.

Cherryhurst, located at 111 Lake Shore Road, stands on a two acre landscaped site along Lake Shore Road, facing Lake St. Clair. This U-shaped, two-and-one-half story single family dwelling was built in the Tudor Revival style circa 1907. Relatively few changes have been made to the house during its history. Reflective of the popular sixteenth and seventeenth century English Renaissance building, Cherryhurst incorporates typical characteristics of the revival style such as: rambling asymmetrical massing; a steeply pitched, gabled roof; intersecting gables; decorative half timbering; and long rows of casement windows. The main entrance is sheltered by a porte-cochere in the center of one of the long sides of the U. The exterior walls of the main story are finished in random ashlar stone and stucco while the gables in most of the second story contain stucco and half-timber. The interior of the house reflects the Tudor style in the woodwork, Tudor arches, and fire place surrounds. An iron gate between brick piers marks the entrance to the private drive off of Lake Shore Road. The piers bear stone sculptures of lions and a plaque with the address "111 ." The dwelling is sited in the rear half of a long and narrow lake front property measuring 150 feet wide and 614 feet deep. The north side of the property is defined by a masonry wall and wood stockade fence separating it from the adjacent single family, lake front properties. The west and south side of the property abuts a modern subdivision. To the east, across Lake Shore Road, is Lake St. Clair. The grounds include gardens and a variety of trees and shrubbery. Cherryhurst remains a well preserved and significant example of the eclectic architecture and landscape to which Grosse Pointe Farms' budding society was drawn.