East River Road Historic District, Gothic Revival district in Grosse Ile, Michigan.
The East River Road Historic District comprises eleven structures on Grosse Ile, including seven residences, two outbuildings, St. James Episcopal Church, and a railroad depot. The buildings are constructed in Gothic Revival style and arrange themselves along a street facing the Detroit River.
The district's buildings were constructed between 1840 and 1870 during a period of residential growth in the region. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 to preserve these structures and their architectural importance.
Architect Gordon W. Lloyd shaped the district with several houses featuring Gothic Revival elements like steeply pitched roofs and pointed arches. These design choices create a unified visual appearance that stands apart from later building styles.
The historic buildings line East River Road, which faces the Detroit River and offers spacious grounds with waterfront views. Visitors can explore the area on foot to view the architecture from the exterior and take in the river landscape.
St. James Episcopal Church was financed through a legacy from Lisette Denison Forth, a formerly enslaved person who made arrangements with the Biddle family to support the building. This history reflects a notable connection between personal freedom and community religious funding in the district's past.
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