“Imagine summer cottages built by the wealthy. That was Charles Lang Freer’s desire. He wanted a similar home. But it should be in Detroit. So let’s dive into the story of the Charles Lang Freer House.
Charles Lang Freer. The name might not ring a bell for everyone. He was an industrialist and art collector. His gift? The Freer Gallery of Art. It became part of the Smithsonian Institution.
In 1890, Freer hired Wilson Eyre. Eyre was to design his Detroit home. Freer was impressed by shingle-style cottages. These were common in Newport, Rhode Island. The Charles Lang Freer House was finished in 1892. It was next to his business partner’s home. That partner was Col. Frank J. Hecker. Together they made their fortune. It was from the Peninsular Car Company.
Look closely at the exterior. Eyre used hard blue limestone for the first floor. It came from New York. The limestone isn’t blue anymore. Time has discolored it. Dark Michigan oak shingles cover most of the rest. Notice the third story. A triangular gable breaks up the roofline. Also look for dormers. Large chimneys stand at the east and west ends. Below are porches. They weren’t always enclosed. Originally they were open-air. Now they are closed with stucco.
The interior design considered Freer’s art collection. Today, that collection is in the Freer Gallery of Art. The house has twenty-two rooms. Twelve fireplaces kept it warm. An elevator offered easy access to all floors. Balconies, bay windows and skylights add character. In 1906, Eyre added an art gallery above the stable.
There’s another interesting fact. In 1904, Freer bought The Peacock Room. James Whistler designed it. Eyre designed another room. This one was in the carriage house. It was specifically for The Peacock Room.
The Charles Lang Freer House has changed hands over the years. In 1916, Lizzie Pitts Merrill Palmer left a large sum of money. It was for a school focused on home and family. In 1923, the school bought the Charles Lang Freer House. The institute is still there today. In 1980, it became part of Wayne State University. Now it is the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute. The institute runs a preschool. It is for children aged two and a half to five. The faculty studies children. They study them from infancy to adulthood.
The Charles Lang Freer House stands as a testament to Detroit’s history. It reflects Freer’s love for art. It also demonstrates his appreciation for unique architecture. The house became a Michigan State Historic Site in 1970. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Take a moment to appreciate the legacy. The Charles Lang Freer House connects art, industry and education.”