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Bloomfield Blossoms: p. 132-133

Smith, Kay, 1925-

Bloomfield Township Public Library

Architecture, Domestic -- Michigan -- Bloomfield Hills

Dwellings -- Michigan

Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

GB01a068

part of 'Bloomfield Blossoms' by Kay Smith

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EARLY SUBURBAN RESIDENCES Bloomfield Hills, so attractive to our first settlers, spent its long dormant farm years as did the rest of the area, safe from industry and pollution alike. Even after the automobile had made it accessible, it developed in a most orderly way. The golf and riding clubs also made it a delightful place to live, and swimming pools and tennis courts on private estates added to the atmosphere of affluence and the good life. The four houses pictured here are examples of varied architectural styles of what the outside world sees of Bloomfield Hills. All were built in the Twenties and Thirties and reflect the secure way of life which existed before the Depression temporarily halted building throughout the country. The upper right picture on the opposite page is the Arts and Crafts style house built for J. Howard Muzzy in the Twenties. The first house, built in 1925, was near completion when it burned to the ground. The fire prompted residents toward incorporation as a village, since they felt that if they had their own fire department, instead of depending on Royal Oak, Farmington and Pontiac, they could have saved the building. The upper left picture opposite is the attractive Georgian Colonial home of the Fred Sanders on Vaughan Road. Lower left on the opposite page is James A. Beresford's house on Lone Pine Road, designed by J. Robert F. Swanson and Henry S. Booth -the first architects to live and work in Bloomfield. Mr. Beresford is a former city commissioner, having served for 20 years, during several of which he was mayor of the city. He is presently chairman of the Hills' Bicentennial Historical Committee. The Henry S. Booths built their house pictured on this page in 1926. The Booths still live there. Mr. Booth is no longer active as an architect but is deeply involved with Cranbrook which his parents began, and is working on a book of its history.