As we continue to develop the story of Michigan’s role in modern design, we would like to include your stories, articles, and photographs, or simply tell us about a mid-century modern building in your community. To be a partner in this project, all you have to do is send your story or information to the address below, or you can email one of the project contacts by clicking on their name.
Mailing Address
Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
702 West Kalamazoo Street
Post Office Box 30740
Lansing, Michigan 48909-8240
Telephone: (517) 373-1630
Facsimile: (517) 335-0348
Electronic Mail: MichiganModern@michigan.gov
Project Contacts
Brian Conway, State Historic Preservation Officer
Amy Arnold, Project Coordinator/Research
Todd Walsh, Website Coordinator/Research
This house was also built by Harold Turner. It is in Southfield not in Bloomfield Hills as listed. There are some great shots of the home. After Harold Turner’s association with Wright, he became a “designer-builder” in the Detroit area; just like Mr. Henken and Mr. Resnick, who put Wright’s theories into practice in Usonia, the Wright community in New York. I feel that Harold Turner should also be recognized as a great Michigan mid century modern Designer/Builder
I would like to suggest that you add floor plans to the exterior photos of your residences. This would greatly enhance the educational quality of your site.
Please add ALL of the Alden Dow houses.
We agree with you about adding plans. Unfortunately, we do not have plans for many of the buildings we have in our files. We’ll be sure to add them as we get them.
We’ll be adding more information on Alden Dow’s work, as well as many of the other architects and designers who worked in Michigan. Be sure to check back often to see what’s been added!
Erich’s note above references our home, (new link below), but there are numerous other Turner homes in the Bloomfield area, and some outside Grand Blanc. Turner’s own home is off Telegraph north of Long Lake.
Turner was Frank Lloyd Wright’s master builder on two homes you have already listed (Affleck & Wall) as well as the Goetsch- Winkler home in Okemos.
http://suzannecagwin.reinhartrealtors.com/find_a_home/5547765/29997_Briarbank_Ct_SOUTHFIELD_MI_48034
To Dan Hardin and Cindy Frey…BEAUTIFUL HOME! I actually am interested in your home and noticed that it was for sale. I clicked on the link above and does not show the listing. I am an advocate of Usonia and FLW’s work. I make a point during my travels across the country to check FLW’s work where available. Is your home available to purchase as I would like to speak to you on that behalf.
Marta
Yes our home is still on the market. Contact us via email – cindyanddan@comcast.net
There is a most amazing example of modern residential design in Oakland Twp., Mi. It is the Walter P. Reuther and May Wolf House, designed by Oscar Stonorov. There are two main residential structures, Reuthers house and a smaller guest house built on an island in the near by river, reachable by a small wooden footbrigde. There is some great information at the following website: http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/hstypematch.asp?abp=113&mrkr=nrl
While I have no background,I do appreciate history.Out for a Sunday stroll down Oakland st. I happened to find an old 20”x12”(approx.) certificate frame lying in the gutter.In it was an original New York state license to practise architecture,complete with state seal.Dated 12 Sept.1941. Grantee was Elmer J. Manson. Although time worn it is in good condition.Does he still have relatives in the area? How would this end up in the street?Any help out there? email me at lafler.karl@yahoo.com
Great project! Long overdue!Before moving to Chicago, I am orginally from Detroit and worked in many Detroit offices.I believe you should include the following Architects: Harvey Ferrero, still practicing, Earle W. Pellerin, deceased former head of architecture at Lawrence Tech. Richard Rochon, recently deceased architectural delineator, Sigmund Blum, former head of design at SH&G architects. If I think of more I’ll let you know.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for the heads up on the architects you noted. We really appreciate your contribution, and, yes, please send us more names as you think of them… or, if you are aware of any buildings constructed by these individuals, please let us know that too.
I live in Midland and work at Midland Memorial Garden Cemetery. Our chapel was built in 1957 approx. We believe it is Midwest Modern and might be Alden B Dow. How do we find out? The chapel has a steep pitch to the roof that overhangs the building quite far. What is interesting is that the architect put large square holes in the roof so when you stand in the chapel you see the ground and the sky but, nothing inbetween. It is as if he was saying: to the ground I commend the body to the heavens the spirit.
I am developing a monograph on a Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Traverse City Architect named Francis William Willsey. If anyone has information on Mr. Willsey, I would be very interested in including in my research.
Thank you
William Blair Scott, Jr.
Architectural Historian
Harold Turner designed and built my Grandparents home in Bloomfield Mi. I have an old picture of the home from 1950 and recent ones. I will post them in the next week or so. The house is off Long Lake Road. You can truly see the Frank Lloyd Wright influence in the house. I will be back to share the photos.
I am really interested to hear (and see) more about the Harold Turner home near Long Lake. I just purchased a home in this area and the neighborhood is filled with mid-century modern homes. I love the neighborhood and have a major remodel to get my recent purchase up to par with my neighbors. Do you know if Harold Turner did a lot of homes in the area or how I can find out who the architect was for my house? I’d appreciate any help with this.
Also, I am excited about this site. Mid Century modern has always been a big interest of mine.
I will try to add pictures of my remodel as I go. My biggest issue so far is to find a way to redo my cool cantilevered deck. All I hear is how bad they are and that I need to cut it off and make it conventional. I have some ideas too keep it modern and cool but I don’t think it will be a true cantilevers any more.
Any thoughts and suggestions are welcome.
Hi Claudia,
Thanks for writing about your grandparents’ house. We look forward to seeing the photos!
I just found you! I am a great fan of MCM and I own two modest ranch homes in southwest lower Michigan (one built in 1955, the other in 1958).
One suggestion on modern buildings: the Michigan State Police posts built during the Fifties and Sixties are truly modern structures. If you go to their web site, you can view the exteriors of them. I even adore the 2-story posts built during the Thirties by the WPA.
Hi Jan,
Thanks for the great tip on the State Police posts. We hope you enjoy the website.
I just purchased a beautiful mid-century modern home in Flint and I would like to find out who built it. The house looks original and was owned by Dr Fleming Barbour. Any suggestions?
I used to work in Southfield and there is a treasure-trove of modern design if you look. The one building that always amazed me with it’s Star Wars look was 19111 W. 10 Mile Road. I still don’t know who the designer was or much else about the building. It is a white with a parking garage underneath. You can do a Google/Street to see the design. Anyone have anything on this one?
there are a lot of Swanson and Associates building in Ann Arbor that are not on your list for his buildings. You can access a list through the University of Michigan Bentley Library which has a chronological list for every building built or purchased by UM from 1840 to the present.
Thanks for the tip Susan! We’ll check it out and get them added.