French fur traders, explorers, and missionaries were the earliest travelers to this area.

The Early Years
Grosse Pointe, in the early years, was a farming and fishing community.  Because of its location astride the Great Lakes waterway, Indians and traders traveling the lakes were a fact of life in the community. The French influence was very strong throughout the area and is still highly visible today in the many street names of French origin. "Grosse Pointe" is a French spelling.

 

Provencal-Weir House, 1823. Owned by the Grosse Pointe Historical Society and open to the public. Photo courtesy of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society.

The Provencal-Weir House, preserved and restored by the Grosse Pointe Historical Society  is a Greek Revival farmhouse built around 1823 by Detroiter Pierre Provencal. It is believed to be the oldest surviving residence in Grosse Pointe. Originally located at the foot of Provencal at Lake Shore Road, this architectural classic was home to Pierre and Euphemie Provencal, their daughter Catherine, and a number of local children orphaned by the cholera epidemic of the 1830s and 40s. After the death of the Provencals the farmhouse passed to Catherine and her husband, Judge James D. Weir. In subsequent years it served as rental property, a real estate office, and at times a grocery store. It nearly became a members' clubhouse under a brief ownership by the Country Club of Detroit. In 1914 it was moved to its present location, 376 Kercheval Avenue. In 1988 it was purchased by the Grosse Pointe Historical Society. Resoration was begun in 1993 and completed in 1996. For information, please call (313) 885-9241.

Photo courtesy of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society.

Windmill Pointe, the present day location of the city of Grosse Pointe Park, was once the site of a lighthouse and a great swamp or "grand marais". The scene pictured here is a depiction of the area around 1850.

Photo courtesy of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society.

The Buck-Wardwell House, built in the 1850's is thought to be the oldest brick structure in Grosse Pointe. It was originally a farmhouse. The multi-windowed addition on the side was added after some time after origial construction.  Located on Jefferson, the house is still in use today as a residence.

Photo courtesy of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society.

The yellow house to the left  is believed to be one of the earliest frame farmhouses in Grosse Pointe still in use as a residence. It was built in the 1860's and is located on Kerby Road.

By the mid 1870's, the period depicted by the scene below, the Grosse Pointes had achieved some economic prosperity with well manicured farms and roads for carriage traffic.

Photo courtesy of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society.

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19515 Mack Avenue
Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan 48236
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