Thomas A. Parker House

Coordinates: 42°20′00″N 83°02′07″W / 42.333357°N 83.035159°W / 42.333357; -83.035159
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Thomas A. Parker House
Location975 East Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates42°20′00″N 83°02′07″W / 42.333357°N 83.035159°W / 42.333357; -83.035159
Built1868
ArchitectGordon W. Lloyd
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No.82000552[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 12, 1982

The Thomas A. Parker House was built as a private residence and is located at 975 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1] It is currently the law offices of Liddle Sheets Coulson P.C.

Thomas Parker[edit]

Thomas Augustus Parker was born in New York and came to Detroit with his brother in 1845.[2] The two established a successful wholesale grocery business, enabling Parker to grow wealthy.[2] After his retirement, he invested most of his grocery profits in real estate, and was said to be worth $750,000 in 1895.[2]

History[edit]

Parker bought the land on which this house sits in 1867 and, in 1868, commissioned architect Gordon W. Lloyd to build what is now a rare example of a Gothic Revival house in Detroit.[2] Parker lived in the house until his death in 1901. In the 1920s, the house was leased to the Advertisers Bureau by Parker's daughter, and in 1928 it was sold.[2] The building was later used as an artist studio, offices and an apartment building. In 1957 it was sold again, and used as offices, a reading room, a hospital record room and four apartments.[2] It was later turned into the law offices of Liddle Sheets Coulson P.C.

Description[edit]

The house is built from Kelly Island grey limestone, with sandstone from Amherst used as trim.[3] The front façade is asymmetric, with three bays. The central bay holds an arched double-door entranceway on the first floor, and above, double French doors leading to a balcony. The side bays have transverse gables, with the east bay containing a first-floor bay window.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Thomas Augustus Parker House from the city of Detroit
  3. ^ Parker, Thomas A., House from the state of Michigan

External links[edit]