Moross House

The Moross House is a Federal-style residence at 1460 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, displaying the balanced proportions and clean lines typical of early 1800s design. The brick structure features classic architectural details and sits within substantial grounds that include mature gardens with antique plant specimens.

Christopher Moross, a French brickmaker, constructed this house in 1840 as one of Detroit's earliest brick structures to survive to the present day. During the late 1800s, the house passed to Colonel Freeman Norvell, a Civil War veteran who also served as co-founder of Detroit's major newspaper.

The building hosts an art studio and gallery where contemporary works occupy spaces designed in the early 1800s, bridging generations through creative practice. The wisteria-filled gardens frame this coexistence of old and new, showing how historic homes can remain living parts of the community.

The building operates as a private art studio and gallery space, so visits should be arranged in advance rather than expected to be open to walk-in traffic. Its location on East Jefferson Avenue provides convenient road access to other parts of Detroit's historic neighborhoods.

The wisteria vines in the gardens rank among the oldest specimens of their species in the Midwest, having been carefully maintained through many decades of change. Few visitors realize that these mature plants contribute as much character to the property as its Federal architecture itself.