A century-old Detroit mansion designed by famed architect Albert Kahn is on the market for $1.1 million, with much of its original craftsmanship intact and decades of records, furnishings and other belongings from the prominent Detroit family for whom it was built still inside.
The six-bedroom house in Detroit’s Boston-Edison Historic District was designed for the late Joseph Siegel, president of American Lady Corset Co. The Siegel family was prominent in Detroit’s clothing and retail businesses, and several family members built homes in the neighborhood.
The house remained in the Siegel family for generations before being sold to the current owner. Erik Hill, who is co-listing the property with Nika Jusufi of Detroit brokerage Nika & Co., said
the current owner is only the third owner and the first outside the Siegel family.
Much of what the Siegels left behind remained with the house.
During a recent tour, decades of Siegel family history could be found tucked inside closets, cabinets, a vault and other storage areas. Among the materials are letters, photographs, bank statements, canceled checks, business records, blueprints and old keys. Antique furniture that belonged to the family also remains throughout the house.
The three-story home has an estimated 7,291 square feet of finished space, six bedrooms, three full bathrooms and one-half bathroom.
Construction on the home at 610 W. Boston Blvd. began in 1914 and took about two years, Hill said, explaining why both 1914 and 1916 appear in records associated with the property.
Kahn’s work helped shape Detroit’s architectural landscape. He designed factories and other buildings for some of the region’s major manufacturers, including Ford Motor Co.’s River Rouge complex in Dearborn, as well as private residences for some of the city’s prominent families.
More than a century later, many of the home’s architectural elements remain, including quarter-sawn oak paneling and millwork, elaborate plasterwork and five fireplaces. Hill said several light fixtures throughout the house are by Edward F. Caldwell & Co.
Handcrafted ironwork by noted metalsmith Samuel Yellin includes a sunburst above the front entrance and decorative grilles over windows. Hill said some of the exterior ironwork was restored by metalsmith Gabriel Craig.
Inside the central foyer, several doors are incorporated into the wood paneling and nearly disappear when closed. Behind them are a cloakroom, half bathroom, and access to a service area near the kitchen.
The butler’s pantry contains a built-in silver safe, while the primary suite has a concealed jewelry safe and cedar-lined storage. An early communication system used to summon household staff still produces a buzz when activated.
The basement holds more remnants of the home’s past, including early laundry equipment. A belt-driven washing machine with a cedar agitator remains, along with equipment used to extract water from clothing and a gas-heated mangle used to press linens.
Many of the windows retain old glass, its subtle waves slightly distorting the view outside. Hill said that when panes needed replacement, the owner sought similar glass rather than replacing it with modern flat panes.
The property grew during the current owner’s tenure. Hill said a neighboring house burned about 13 years ago and the owner later acquired the lot and incorporated it into the grounds. A garage from that property remains.
The estate now sits on a triple lot of more than an acre and includes the original carriage house. An apartment above the carriage house has not been occupied for decades and needs restoration.
Hill described the owner, who has had the house for about 18 years, as a preservationist who maintained many of the home’s historic features and opened the property over the years for Boston-Edison neighborhood events and home tours.
“He’s done what he can,” Hill said. “He just wants to get it to the next person that’s going to take it to the next level.”
Brendel Clark writes about real estate and other topics for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bclark@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: $1.1M Albert Kahn-designed mansion was built by prominent clothier
