1483 Iroquois St Home

Hi, my parents just bought the R H Webber disaster mansion in Indian Village and are restoring it. It is quite the project but they love the potential of the house and have sunk their heart, soul, and finances into this project. I was wondering if anyone knew any of history surrounding this home? All my research efforts seem to keep coming up short. There are so many beautiful aspects of this home and I would love to know the history behind it. Anyone who has pictures of of what it used to look like or any of the previous owners would be awesome! My uncle is putting together a documentary on the restoration of the house and is looking for as much background information as we can get. Thank you!!! Here is the link to
the curbed article on the house: http://m.detroit.curbed.com/archives...ce-to-190k.php

thanks for any help!!

It sounds like the house is in good hands! That's nice to hear.

What will this documentary consist of?

You might want to reach out to "p69rrh51" who posts so much architectural history on this site.

best wishes to you! please share updates as you progress.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

It sounds like the house is in good hands! That's nice to hear.

What will this documentary consist of?

You might want to reach out to "p69rrh51" who posts so much architectural history on this site.

---

He is just trying to document the restoration of the home and find out some of the back story to who built it or the people that lived in it. We know it was built but R H Webber but they didn't stay here long. We would love to find some pictures of what it looked like in its prime since the condition the bought it in doesn't do it any justice. My parents would also love to bring back as much of its style as possible.

Donald Gratix, attorney appears to be a prior resident.

http://www.detroit.com/places/gratrix-donald-e-attorney

*Donald E. Gratrix, P14284, of Detroit diedMay 3, 2014. He was born in 1929, graduatedfrom the University of Michigan Law School,and was admitted to the Bar in 1960.

There might be some drama in that house too - it looks like in 1985 a 28 year old girl was murdered and buried at that house. Shirley Russell.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/detroitnews...riter_1987.pdf


Is the house haunted?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

Donald Gratix, attorney appears to be a prior resident.

http://www.detroit.com/places/gratrix-donald-e-attorney

*Donald E. Gratrix, P14284, of Detroit diedMay 3, 2014. He was born in 1929, graduatedfrom the University of Michigan Law School,and was admitted to the Bar in 1960.

There might be some drama in that house too - it looks like in 1985 a 28 year old girl was murdered and buried at that house. Shirley Russell.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/detroitnews...riter_1987.pdf


Is the house haunted?

---

Thank you for the help!! So far they haven't seen any evidence of that but we are definitely keeping an eye out.

Wow, I didn't realize that that house had fallen into such rough shape. I grew up in the neighborhood in the "60s and '70s and knew a kid who lived there. All I remember of the house from those days was all that Pewabic tile in there [[which a lot of people though was hideous and old-looking back in the '50s and '60s and ripped out of those houses).

I also remember Mr. Gratrix, who was a friend of a friend of my parents, and the sad incident where his handyman, who was living over the carriage house, killed and buried that young lady.

That house was built in 1915 for Richard Hudson Webber, nephew of J.L. Hudson and the second president of the J.L. Hudson Co. He was also a big philanthropist who established the Hudson Webber Foundation, and, along with his cousin Robert Hudson Tannahill, was one of the early benefactors of the DIA. The architects were the firm of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls [[now SmithGroupJJR).

Indian Village's moment as a center of Detroit society really didn't last very long though. By the mid 1920s R. H. Webber seems to have moved on, following the social crowd out onto Lakeshore Dr. in Grosse Pointe.

Good for your family for taking that project on and saving that wonderful and historic house. It will be difficult, but ultimately, I predict, very rewarding work.

What years did the Webber's live there? Oh it looks like the Social Registry from 1922 has the Webbers living there then.

https://books.google.com/books?id=W7...webber&f=false

Looks like they were out and the Jenks was the family in the 40's Census.

http://www.ancestry.com/1940-census/...a-Jenks_2zwr4n

Actually looking at the Registry it looks like Mrs. Webber's maiden name was Jenks so it must have passed on to her side.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

Looks like they were out and the Jenks was the family in the 40's Census.

http://www.ancestry.com/1940-census/...a-Jenks_2zwr4n

Actually looking at the Registry it looks like Mrs. Webber's maiden name was Jenks so it must have passed on to her side.

---

In fact, Christina Strachan Jenks was Eloise Jenks Webber's mother, and the other non-servant resident listed, Irene Jenks, was her sister. So, it looks like they kept the house in the family for a while after the Webbers split for GP.

Love all the great information everyone is giving!! Thank you all so much! So many great leads of information to look into. Keep any information you have coming!

Last night I found this link on another post that showed the house in 1962. My parents were so excited to see it in great condition. It says on the picture the Leonard Smith house but I haven't had any luck finding information on that. Here is the link:
http://store.historicimages.com/products/rru64193

Have you tried contacting the neighborhood association?

http://indianvillagedetroit.org/about-association

The Home and Garden tour booklets have a lot of info. every year so I think they have neighborhood historians.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pam

... they have neighborhood historians.

---

One of their longtime historians was the late Bob Cosgrove, who used to post here frequently. RIP.

Architectural historian Thom Brunk also has acted as historian for the Indian Village Association.

Not sure who is involved with keeping the IV history current these days, but undoubtedly there is a committee that may be able to provide more info to Cstreater.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kathleen

One of their longtime historians was the late Bob Cosgrove, who used to post here frequently. RIP.

Architectural historian Thom Brunk also has acted as historian for the Indian Village Association.

Not sure who is involved with keeping the IV history current these days, but undoubtedly there is a committee that may be able to provide more info to Cstreater.

---

I will definitely be making a visit to IV historical archives on my next visit here. I will try to get my dad to go before my next trip here. I can't wait to see all the progress they will have made by then.

Best of luck to you and your family. That Pewabic tile is awesome!

having looked at a bunch of Detroit home auctions comparatively speaking thats in good shape. I dont see a disaster. Not really

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cstreater

Last night I found this link on another post that showed the house in 1962. My parents were so excited to see it in great condition. It says on the picture the Leonard Smith house but I haven't had any luck finding information on that. Here is the link:
http://store.historicimages.com/products/rru64193

---

I wonder if that would be Dr. Leonard Smith, longtime [[and quite eccentric) director and conductor of the Detroit Concert Band? I know that he lived in Grosse Pointe in later years, but I don't know if he ever lived in the Village.

If so, that lady standing on the front lawn in that photo would probably be his wife, former actress, model, and broadcaster Helen Rowe, who was a local publicist and press agent for many years.
http://outlet.historicimages.com/products/acq87
http://store.historicimages.com/products/rru63539

Wonderful house. Congratulations and I hope you have a smooth reno.

The building permit for the house was granted on 5/14/14. Smith, Hinchman & Grylls were the architects. The Webers moved into the house in 1915 and lived there until they moved to their house at 437 Lakeshore in Grosse Pointe Farms in 1926. The house on Lakeshore was designed by Robert O. Derrick.
After the Webers moved out, Mrs. Weber's mother Christina S. Jenks, and her sister Irene S. Jenks lived in the house up until sometime before WWII.
A wealth of information for the past 25 years or so is just a short walk across the street. Look for Susan on her porch when she is home.
If you are looking for older/historic images of the house try Manning Brothers Downtown in the Palms Building.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by p69rrh51

The building permit for the house was granted on 5/14/14. Smith, Hinchman & Grylls were the architects. The Webers moved into the house in 1915 and lived there until they moved to their house at 437 Lakeshore in Grosse Pointe Farms in 1926. The house on Lakeshore was designed by Robert O. Derrick.
After the Webers moved out, Mrs. Weber's mother Christina S. Jenks, and her sister Irene S. Jenks lived in the house up until sometime before WWII.
A wealth of information for the past 25 years or so is just a short walk across the street. Look for Susan on her porch when she is home.
If you are looking for older/historic images of the house try Manning Brothers Downtown in the Palms Building.

---

Awesome!!! Thank you so much for the information!

Walked up Iroquois today, and noticed the impeccable restoration of this home. It really looks great from the street! So great to see this home being restored!