H. Augustus and Agnes Cleveland O'Dell House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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H. Augustus and Agnes Cleveland O'Dell House-Inch House
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| Location | 1945 Tiverton Rd., Bloomfield Hills, Michigan |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | H. Augustus O'Dell |
| Architectural style | English Cottage |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000129 |
| Added to NRHP | March 17, 2009 |
The H. Augustus and Agnes Cleveland O'Dell House, also known as the Inch House, is a special family home. You can find it at 1945 Tiverton Road in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. A famous architect named H. Augustus O'Dell designed this house for himself and his family. In 2009, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important building worth protecting.
Contents
The Story of the Inch House
Who Was H. Augustus O'Dell?
H. Augustus O'Dell was born in 1875 in Port Huron, Michigan. He started working in architecture in 1893. He began as a draftsman, which is someone who draws detailed plans for buildings. Later, he moved to Detroit and worked for several other architectural firms.
In 1902, O'Dell started his own company called Baxter & O'Dell. He became well-known for designing apartment buildings. He also designed many large homes in the suburbs.
Building the Inch House
In the late 1800s, the area of Bloomfield Hills began to grow. It became easier to travel there from Detroit. A rich timber businessman named Charles Stinchfield, Sr. owned a large farm here. It was called "Stonycroft" and covered 286 acres.
In 1925, Mr. Stinchfield's family decided to turn the farm into a new neighborhood. They divided the land into lots and added landscaping. O'Dell and his wife, Agnes, bought one of the first lots. They built their house in 1926. O'Dell named it the "Inch House." This name came from his family's old home in Athy, Ireland. The O'Dells lived in the Inch House from 1926 to 1943.
What Does the House Look Like?
The O'Dell House is a two-story home. It has an "L" shape, with roofs that cross each other. The house mixes two styles: French Eclectic and English Cottage.
One of its most noticeable features is the roof. It is very steep and has a wavy shape. The roof is covered with textured slate tiles. Small windows called dormers stick out from the roof. These dormers have wooden windows. The front of the house is made of concrete blocks. There is a brick entrance that sticks out slightly. Behind the house, you can find a patio, a pool house, and a swimming pool.
