William Edmund and Nina A. Downey Scripps Estate

The William E. Scripps Estate is significant for its association with William Edmund Scripps, a prominent figure in the development of the Detroit News and a key player in the American Country Place Era. The estate reflects the lifestyle and values of the American elite during the early 20th century, showcasing both architectural and landscape design excellence. The estate's design by Clarence E. Day, a noted Detroit architect, and Bryant Fleming, a pioneer in American landscape architecture, exemplifies the integration of architecture and landscape in creating a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing environment.

The estate's architecture is a notable example of the Norman and Tudor revival styles, popular among the wealthy during this period. The use of high-quality materials and craftsmanship, including the work of Oscar Bach and Samuel Yellin, further enhances its architectural significance. The estate's landscape design, with its formal gardens, water features, and vistas, is a testament to the skill and vision of Bryant Fleming, who was instrumental in shaping the American landscape architecture profession.

The estate's historical significance is also tied to its role as a private retreat and later as a treatment facility, reflecting changes in land use and social attitudes over time. The preservation of the estate's original features and its continued use in a manner consistent with its historical purpose contribute to its significance as a cultural and historical landmark.

The William E. Scripps estate residence is located within a 105-acre property northeast of Joslyn and Scripps Roads, approximately six miles southeast of the Village of Lake Orion, Michigan. It was originally part of the 3,830-acre country estate retreat and stockbreeding farm of William Edmund Scripps, the sole heir to The Detroit News empire founded by James E. Scripps. The property has been used as a private substance abuse residential treatment facility for priests and women religious since it passed out of the hands of the Scripps family in the 1950s. The house and grounds are surrounded by several square miles of county and state parks that were formerly estate lands. The parks are generally undeveloped and feature natural areas including rolling hills, wetlands, woods, and lakes. There is a minimum of nearby development with the exception of an area southeast of Joslyn and Scripps Roads, where there is a condominium complex on Voorheis Lake and a shopping village complex consisting of new buildings and redesigned former estate barns and outbuildings.

The house is situated on a high point of the former estate that has sweeping views of the natural features of the vicinity, with transitional formal lawn and garden areas. The garden landscape, designed by pioneer American landscape architect Bryant Fleming in 1927, is a key resource within the estate boundaries. It consists of a network of walls, terraces, balustrades, stairs, gates, paths, water features, and sculpture to create outdoor rooms and vistas. The two-and-a-half story house (built 1926-1927) was designed by noted Detroit revivalist architect and brother-in-law to Scripps, Clarence E. Day. It combines both medieval Norman and Tudor styles, while incorporating twentieth-century conveniences and innovations in an irregular L-shaped plan. The building is steel framed, with the exterior constructed with gold/buff Briar Hill sandstone ashlar at ground level and half-timbering or stucco on the second story. The house has three round towers, a prominent rustic slate roof with gable and hip roof forms, various dormers and chimneys, single and grouped windows, and a large open porte cochere. Extensive ornamentation reflects the highest quality of American craftsmanship on both interior and exterior, especially the hand-carved woodwork and stone, and the metalwork of Oscar Bach and that attributed to Samuel Yellin. The house has had little alteration since its original construction and thus its design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association all remain intact. Throughout the interior, the original marble, carved stone and wood, metalwork, custom fixtures, stained glass, ornamental plaster and other painted finishes, and many original furnishings survive.

The designed landscape ranges widely and is discussed separately. It includes 1) natural ponds, a stream and a lake; 2) designed artificial natural water features, as well as several fountains; 3) an evergreen wood; 4) open rolling lawns; 5) specimen trees; 6) paths, lanes and allees; 7) terraced natural areas; 8) statuary and sculpted objects; 9) formal walled and terraced garden rooms; 10) elaborate gates; and 11) structures integrated into the landscape design. Multiple and complex sight lines and sweeping vistas are evident. The grounds have changed over time, but like the house, retain their historic integrity, especially in the south, north, and west portions of the grounds. The features in these areas vary from good to very good condition and retain their purpose and character. Within the nomination boundary are other contributing built elements, consisting of 1) a frame outbuilding in the utilitarian garden area and 2) a half-mile-long cobble wall along Scripps Road and associated bridle gate posts that pre-date the house. The utilitarian garden section to the east of the residence has been altered through the removal or loss of pathways, small gardens and support buildings and the addition of modern features. These non-contributing elements include an outdoor chapel, devotional mosaic panel, statue, adjacent gravel and concrete parking areas, asphalt surfaced drives, metal fence and some new plant materials. Outside the nomination boundaries but part of the property is 1) a new treatment facility under construction on the site of a previous c. 1970s building (partially screened and some distance northeast of the house), 2) a single-story narrow frame building (c. 1970s) built for additional accommodations located near the new building, and 3) an administrative building and garage that lay further to the north out of view. However, the impact of these buildings on the viewshed is minimal, and the surrounding miles of well-protected natural landscape preserves this property's historic setting, feeling and association as a large country estate of the American Country Place Era.