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
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
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
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.
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