Detroit Club

The Detroit Club is significant under Criterion A for its association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history, and under Criterion C for embodying the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or representing the work of a master, or possessing high artistic values, or representing a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction.

Located in downtown Detroit, Michigan, on the northeast corner of Cass Avenue and West Fort Street, the Detroit Club has served as a prestigious social club in the city for over a century. In mid-December of 1892, the private club building opened its doors to prominent Detroiters. Wilson Eyre, Jr., an eminent Philadelphia architect, designed the Detroit Club in an eclectic mix of styles that includes primarily Second Renaissance Revival and Richardsonian Romanesque styles, after designing club member Charles Lang Freer's house on Detroit's Ferry Avenue. On architectural drawings, the Detroit firm of John Scott and Company was listed as joint architects with Eyre (Eyre Architectural Drawings). While Eyre is credited for the Detroit Club's design, the local architectural firm oversaw the club building's construction. Facing west onto Cass Avenue, the broad facade rises four levels above the partially exposed basement, but is distinctly divided by a tripartite delineation. A rounded bay projects frontward from either end of the symmetrical front elevation. Differences in treatment are visible between the primary (south and west) elevations and the secondary (north and east) elevations, including building materials, architectural details, and landscaping. On the primary elevations, the partially exposed basement and first floor levels are constructed with chocolate colored, rock-faced sandstone. While the building specifications called for 'Portage Entry Red sand stone' (Scott 15), an 1892 newspaper account of the Club's opening reported that 'Marquette brownstone from Little's quarry at Pequaming' was the type of sandstone used ('Their New Building'). Above, the upper floors are clad with red Roman bricks laid in a running bond with narrow mortar joints. According to the same Detroit Evening News article, 'Findlay pressed brick' was used ('Their New Building'). Alternating rounded arch and flat-headed windows mostly consist of one-over-one, double-hung, wooden sashes. Rich architectural details embellish the Detroit Club, most significantly the primary elevations, and are refining touches to this stately building. Dark fawn, clay, and red colored terra cotta architectural details and trim accent the masonry, while a painted metal entablature wraps around the primary elevations. In contrast, the east and most of the north elevation are constructed of a rougher grade of masonry and lack the high level of embellishment featured on the west and south elevations. Rising from the entablature, a brick parapet with stone coping surrounds the roof on all but the rear (east) elevation. The flat, composite covered roof is not visible. Small trees, bushes, and ornamental flowers further distinguish the primary elevations. Overall, the Detroit Club has been well preserved and possesses a high level of integrity in its location, design, workmanship, and feeling.