Colonel Frank Hecker House

The Colonel Frank J. Hecker House, located at 5510 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, stands as a testament to the city’s Gilded Age and the fortunes made during the late 19th century. Built between 1888 and 1892 for railroad-car manufacturer and Civil War veteran Colonel Frank J. Hecker, the mansion is a rare surviving example of the opulent homes that once graced Woodward Avenue. Today, it is owned by Wayne State University and remains a significant landmark in the cultural landscape of Detroit.

History

Construction of the Hecker House began in 1888, though the majority of the work took place between 1889 and 1892. The project was entrusted to architect Louis Kamper, then working with the firm Scott, Kamper and Scott. Kamper had received training from the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, and brought a sophisticated design sensibility to the project. The house was completed in 1892 for Colonel Frank Joseph Hecker (1846-1927) and his wife, Anna Marie Williamson (1844-1933). The total cost of the house, including design fees, the carriage house, carpets, décor, and furnishings, reached $164,926.68 – equivalent to approximately $3.98 million in today’s dollars.

The location chosen for the mansion was, at the time, a relatively rural area on the southeast corner of Ferry and Woodward Avenue. Dexter M. Ferry’s seed nurseries were located further east on Ferry Street, and the area was still developing. Ferry Street itself first appeared in city records in 1874, with East Ferry Avenue being subdivided in 1886, requiring homes to cost at least $7,000 and be set back 40 feet from the sidewalk. Colonel Hecker purchased two lots on Woodward Avenue in 1887 for $27,859, a price reflecting the prestige of a Woodward Avenue address. In 1958, the house was designated a Michigan State Historic Site, and in 1971, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Wayne State University acquired ownership of the property in September 2014.

Notable Residents

Colonel Frank J. Hecker was a prominent figure in Detroit’s late 19th and early 20th-century business and social circles. Born in Freedom, Michigan, in 1846, he joined the Union Army at the age of 18 during the Civil War, achieving the rank of Colonel. After the war, he transitioned to a career in the railroad industry, working for the Union Pacific Railway and other smaller railroads in New York. It was during this time that he formed a lifelong friendship and business partnership with Charles Lang Freer.

Freer, known for his extensive collection of Asian art that now resides within the Smithsonian, built his home in a shingle style directly behind Hecker’s chateau on East Ferry. The Hecker family consisted of Colonel Frank J. Hecker and his wife, Anna Williamson, who resided in the home until their deaths in 1927 and 1933 respectively. The couple had five children, though further details regarding their lives are not readily available in the provided sources. The Hecker’s were among the first residents of the developing Ferry Avenue neighborhood, with only the Bowen and Mabley families residing nearby when they initially moved in. Transportation at the time was limited, with horse cars only extending as far as Forest Avenue, requiring residents beyond that point to travel by carriage.

Architecture

Louis Kamper designed the Hecker House to resemble a 16th-century French chateau, specifically drawing inspiration from the Château de Chenonceau, located near Tours, France. This stylistic choice was fitting given Detroit’s French heritage and the desire of prominent citizens to emulate European elegance. Kamper was a well-respected architect in Detroit, known for his commercial work, including the Book-Cadillac Hotel, the Book Tower, Broderick Tower, and the Water Board Building. His training under the firm McKim, Mead and White undoubtedly influenced his design approach.

The mansion’s construction and detailing reflect the wealth and status of the Hecker family. The house’s original cost included not only the building itself but also the carriage house, carpets, décor, and high-end furnishings. The attention to detail and the quality of materials used contributed to the home’s enduring presence and its designation as a historic landmark. The house has remained largely unchanged for 130 years, despite significant changes to the surrounding city.

Geography

The Colonel Frank J. Hecker House is situated at 5510 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. This location places it near the East Ferry Avenue Historic District and the Cultural Center Historic District, areas known for their concentration of architecturally significant buildings. Woodward Avenue itself is a major thoroughfare in Detroit, historically and currently serving as a vital transportation corridor and a focal point for commercial and cultural activity. The surrounding neighborhood has evolved considerably since the late 19th century when the Hecker House was built, transitioning from a rural, residential area to a more urbanized environment.

The original location was chosen for its relative seclusion, as it was initially surrounded by undeveloped land, including the nurseries of Dexter M. Ferry. The house was built on two lots purchased by Colonel Hecker in 1887, reflecting the premium associated with owning property on Woodward Avenue. Today, the house is situated within a densely populated urban area, surrounded by Wayne State University buildings and other institutional structures.

See Also

East Ferry Avenue Historic District Woodward Avenue Louis Kamper