Cresting Happiness

I was born in Detroit, a 1957 model.

And I’ve long been fascinated by the utter ruination of the Brush Park neighborhood, and its miraculous revival.

Only a few old houses remain, and most have been redone on-the-cheap.

But not the Henry Glover House.

Here it what it looked like in 2014:

 

When the developer wrote about installing roof cresting, I begged him to make to sure the scale was right, so he didn’t repeat…

 

…the underscaled cresting on the nearby Gillis house, pictured here.

 

He responded! And agreed to have custom-made cresting to avoid the horror of underscale.

So, when I saw the post about the newly installed cresting I wrote: “THIS IS THE DAY I’VE BEEN LIVING FOR!!!!!!!!!!!”

His reply: “Does that mean you like it? The scale ok?”

He remembered my plea!

It seems amazing that a single comment from a guy in Kansas could influence a restoration in Detroit!

 

BEFORE.

 

AFTER!!!!!!!! I am quite gobsmacked!

 

 

 

8 Comments

  1. Sandra D Lee on March 11, 2022 at 8:55 pm

    Bravo Ross!

    You questioned the esthetic and someone responded to your plea! A builder no less!

  2. Cindy Belanger on March 11, 2022 at 9:38 pm

    I’m glad someone took the time and money to restore this poor mansion. It is amazing that the builder took your comment to heart and did what you suggested. And maybe inspired other builders/owners to research and restore their houses properly. Another win for Ross.

  3. mlaiuppa on March 12, 2022 at 1:28 am

    Wow. He must have had historic photos to guide that reconstruction.

    THE COPPER! The shingles, the stonework, the ironwork.

    Wow.

    Many of the houses may be gone but the ones that are left, if they all can be lovingly restored like this, that will make all the difference in bringing the neighborhood back.

    If I had unlimited resources I would buy one of these poor wretches and not only restore it inside and out but also buy the surrounding parcels and put in an orchard and gardens. And hope that the neighbors would do the same, creating a wonderful, walkable neighborhood where green had replaced the dirt where houses once stood.

  4. Dan Goodall-Williams on March 12, 2022 at 4:42 am

    That is just incredible!! I’m stunned that someone restored that house in the condition it was. WOW.

  5. john feuchtenberger on March 12, 2022 at 9:21 am

    I can and do sit for an inordinate amount of time flipping back and forth between these pictures, and your Christmas 2019 post.
    It’s like I’m obsessed.
    I am.
    We are.

  6. Laurie L Weber on March 12, 2022 at 5:23 pm

    Wow! So neat that he did it! Good for you, again! Thanks!

  7. Grandmere Louise on March 13, 2022 at 9:15 am

    And lovely corbels too. So nice to see things done well.

  8. Karen Spencer on March 13, 2022 at 9:33 pm

    Amazing and a very good and wonderful thing.

    You are quite the influencer and quite loved by your community, far and wide Ross.

    Bravo!

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