Perry McAdow House facts for kids
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Perry McAdow House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | 4605 Cass Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Martin Scholls & Son |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Part of | Warren-Prentis Historic District (ID97001477) |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004405 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 03, 1980 |
| Designated CP | December 01, 1997 |
The Perry McAdow House is a beautiful old home in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. It was built in a style called Renaissance Revival, which means it looks like buildings from the European Renaissance period. This house is very important! It was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976. Later, in 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. You can find it at 4605 Cass Avenue.
Contents
History of the Perry McAdow House
The Perry McAdow House was built in 1891. It was the home of Clara McAdow and her husband, Perry W. McAdow. They became very wealthy from gold mining in Montana. Clara was especially good at business.
Clara McAdow's Success
Clara McAdow moved to Montana with her first husband, Dr. C. E. Tomlinson. She got a job with the Northern Pacific Railroad. This was a very important job for a woman at that time. After her first husband passed away, Clara used their savings to buy land in Billings. She became known for making some of the biggest land deals in Billings' history.
Clara met Perry McAdow through her real estate work. They got married in 1884. Perry had a chance to buy a share in a gold mine called the Spotted Horse mine. But he wasn't interested in mining. So, Clara took over the business. She bought it for $11,000.
Clara worked hard at the mine. After just two years, it was producing about 75 ounces of gold every day! In 1890, she sold the mine to some investors for a huge amount of money: $500,000.
Building the Mansion
With their new wealth, Clara and Perry decided to build a grand house in Detroit. They wanted to join Detroit's high society. In 1891, they built the Perry McAdow House on Cass Avenue. It cost $65,000, which was a lot of money back then!
The McAdows lived in the house until 1897. After they left, it remained a private home until 1913. Then, a church group called the First Universalist congregation bought it.
The House as a Church Building
The church used the house as a place to worship for three years. In 1916, they finished building a new church right next door. After that, the Perry McAdow House became a "parish house." This means it was used for church activities, meetings, or offices.
Architecture of the House
The Perry McAdow House is a beautiful example of Renaissance Revival architecture. It has two and a half stories. The roof is a hipped roof, which means all sides slope downwards to the walls. The house is built with red brick and brownstone.
Outside Features
The outside of the house has many interesting details:
- There are bay windows, which are windows that stick out from the main wall of the house.
- You can see Corinthian columned porches. These porches have columns that are decorated in a fancy style called Corinthian.
- There are parapet balustrades. A parapet is a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony. A balustrade is a row of small posts that support a handrail.
- The house also has a modillion cornice. A cornice is a decorative molding around the top of a building. Modillions are small, decorative brackets that support the cornice.
Inside Features
The inside of the Perry McAdow House is just as impressive as the outside. It has beautiful frescos, which are paintings done on wet plaster. There is also fancy paneling on the walls, detailed plasterwork on the ceilings, and colorful stained glass windows.
Behind the main house, there is a two-story church hall. It is made of red brick and was built in 1917.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Perry McAdow para niños
