Welcome to 4806 Avery Street in Detroit, Michigan! As usual, I am thrilled to explore Detroit properties, and this particular one did not disappoint. While researching this home, I had to resist the temptation of delving into numerous intriguing aspects multiple times. One of these fascinating discoveries was the architect behind this unique home. Stay tuned for more on this subject and so much more!
Come along as we explore the background of this remarkable home - one of the largest homes in its neighborhood as we briefly tell the stories behind its walls!
General Facts about 4806 Avery:
Year Built: 1901
City, State: Detroit, Michigan
Neighborhood: Woodbridge
Size: 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, plus a 2 bedroom rental unit; approx. 4,500 sq. ft
Style: Brick Tudor
# of Families from 1901 - 1950: 2 (Dailey & Dronberger)
Original Addresses: 264 Avery from 1901 - 1920 [1]
Historic Maps of 1060 Third St NW
The image above is the 1897 Sanborn Insurance Map and the red asterisk is plat location of 4806 [264] Avery. There were only 10 homes built on that particular block and 4806 [264] was not one of them yet.
However, the next Sanborn Insurance Map of that area, from 1906, 4806 [264] was built along with most of the other homes in that surrounding few blocks. There are a lot of numbers in that image, but the red asterisk is the location of the home.
Ten years later in 1919, it looks like all of the empty house plats have been built on and the neighborhood is pretty well established. The red asterisk is the location of 4806 [264] Avery and there is the letter 'F' on the house. Unlike the map previously from 1909, where the home was in yellow [which meant single family home], in 1919 the home was now considered a 'Flat'. The Sanborn Insurance company defined flat as "a single family occupancy per floor on each side of a building with more than two floors." The home turned into multiple apartments 14 years after being built.
Fast forward 40 years, the image above shows the home and part of the Woodbridge neighborhood in 1961. The red asterisk is the location and the home is still a flat and the pink indicates the home is built out of bricks.
A Very Brief History of the Woodbridge Neighborhood & Avery Street
Before we explore the history of the home, it's important to also learn about the history of the neighborhood and how it was formed.
The story of 4806 Avery Street began hundreds of years ago - the land that the Woodbridge
neighborhood is located on was originally known as Waaiiyaatanong. Waaiiyaatanong is the
contemporary and ancestral land of the Three Fires Confederacy. The Treaty of Detroit in 1807 colonized this land and was split between the US Government and the Ojibwa, Odawa,
Potawatomi, and Wyandot nations.
Around 1740, the city of Detroit was originally plotted as very long narrow farms starting from the Detroit River. In 1804, the US Federal Government sold the land to French landowners -one of them being William H. Woodbridge (the first Governor of Michigan). In 1857, that land was incorporated into the city of Detroit and subdivided and plotted for housing/commercial.
The home at 4806 Avery Street was part of the Avery & Murphy Subdivision which was platted in 1885.
The image above is the plat map of the Avery & Murphy's subdivision - not exactly sure on the year of this specific map but it shows how a neighborhood originates from and all the details that go into it.
Avery Street in particular was named after Newell Avery - a lumber dealer who helped developed the Woodbridge neighborhood. Below is this obituary from 1877 which tells a good history of the him and his life.
The Architect of 4806 [264] Avery: Joseph E. Mills
Surprisingly, an article in the September 30, 1900 edition of the Detroit Free Press revealed that architect Joseph E. Mills finalized the plans for Elvin G. Dailey's house located at the intersection of Hancock and Avery Streets, specifically at 4806 [264] Avery. It is quite uncommon to pinpoint the specific architect of a residence, making this discovery a significant addition to the home's history.
Joseph Eldred Mills was born in 1854 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his teenage years, he and his family relocated to Bushnell, Illinois. Census records indicate that his father, William Mills [1820-1887], worked as a carpenter and constructed houses, which is likely where Joseph acquired his carpentry/design skills. In 1883, Joseph Mills wed Ella Partells while they were living in Detroit. Although his obituary states that he moved to Detroit in 1886, there is a slight discrepancy in the marriage record, which suggests a different timeframe.
After a few years working at a prominent architect firm in Detroit, he started his own firm. He quickly became one of the most sought after and famous architects of Detroit and even Michigan. He actually lived just a block north of 4806 [264] Avery at 5027 [317] Avery Street. Unfortunately, his house is no longer standing. He also designed many homes in the Woodbridge neighborhood - which was just starting to grow during this time.
His son, Byron, later joined his firm in the early 1900's and he continued the business for many years. Joseph E. Mills passed away of kidney cancer in June 1919.
Below are just some of the newspaper articles of Joseph E Mills' work. (More articles are at the end of this post.)
Family # 1: The Dailey Family
Years Lived at 4806 [264] Avery: 1901 - 1915
Elvin Gilbert Dailey
Born: June 20, 1854; Washington County, New York
Died: August 23, 1915; Detroit, Michigan
Father: Peleg (b. 1825; New York - d. 1907; Illinois)
Mother: Polly Dake (b. 1820; New York - d. 1893; Illinois)
Elvin Daily was born in 1854 in Washington County, New York (just north of Albany) to Peleg and Polly Dailey. (There is contradicting information on where Elvin was born. Multiple census records and his marriage record stated he was born in New York but his obituary had Stockwood, Illinois as his birthplace.) Elvin was one of 10 children and the Dailey family lived and worked on their family farm. The exact year of when Elvin moved to Detroit is unknown but was probably around mid 1870's as that is when he established his business. In addition, he was already a resident of Detroit living on Plum Street by 1880 - also the same year he married Lina Nicholson.
Mary Emmaline [Lina] Nicholson
Born: January 27, 1858; Detroit, Michigan
Died: February 15, 1912; Detroit, Michigan
Father: Pickering (b. 1827; England - d. 1908; Michigan)
Mother: Elizabeth Cowing (b. 1832; New York - d. 1892; Michigan)
Mary, or Lina as the name she would use, was born in Detroit and was one of seven children to Pickering and Elizabeth Nicholson. Lina's father, Pickering, immigrated from Cave, England with his family when he was 7 years old. He worked his whole life as a contractor and builder.
As previously stated, Elvin Dailey and Lina Nicholson were married on July 6, 1880 in Detroit, Michigan. Their first son was born on June 30, 1881 - Keith Dailey. Sadly, he passed away five years later in March of 1886. There was no newspaper article or death certificate found online so any details are unknown.
Elvin and Lina had two more children - Edith and Winthrop:
Edith Dailey
Born: July 17, 1885; Detroit, Michigan
Died: January 16, 1966; Tampa Bay, Florida
Spouse: John Stalker (b. 1881; Michigan - d. 1955; Florida)
Marriage: 1908 in Detroit, Michigan
Children: Five children - 3 sons and 2 daughters
Winthrop Dailey
Born: July 27, 1889; Detroit, Michigan
Died: August 8, 1956; Saginaw, Michigan
Spouse: Kathleen Thompson (b. 1889; Michigan - d. 1959; Florida)
Marriage: 1910 in Detroit, Michigan
Children: Four children - 3 daughters and 1 son
We couldn't tell the story of 4806 [264] Avery Street without telling the origins of the land and how the area became a neighborhood - and also the creativity and brains behind the design of the home. But now, the story of the families that all lived in this home began with Elvin, Lina, Edith, and Winthrop Dailey.
As previously mentioned above, Elvin Dailey moved to Detroit around the mid 1870's and married Lina Nicholson in 1880. According to a Detroit Free Press article from 1903, Elvin started his own business in 1878 called the E.G. Dailey Company.
Elvin started this company with one other man - Winthrop G. Sawyer. [yes, Elvin's son is also named Winthrop] Winthrop Sawyer married Louisa Nicholson in 1875 - that last name may sound familiar as she was the older sister of Lina Nicholson - Elvin's wife - who he would marry three years later. Also, to make it a bit more confusing, Louisa and Lina's sister, Adeline also worked at the company as treasurer in the early 1900's.
The E.G. Dailey Company was one of the largest canners and shippers of preserves, pickles and canned goods in the city of Detroit during its peak production in 1903. The company employed more than 200 workers and was first located on the corner of Woodbridge and Bates streets (approx. where the Ren Center and the Windsor Tunnel is located today). It later expanded to 14th Street and Kirby Avenue.
In 1909, a significant fire ravaged the Dailey Company's factory, resulting in the complete destruction of the building. Despite efforts to revive the business, it never fully recovered. Elvin Dailey then assumed the role of vice president at the Michigan Salt Pickle Supply company in Saginaw. Subsequently, Elvin's son, Winthrop, relocated to Saginaw and established the Dailey Pickle and Canning company. This enterprise was later passed on to Winthrop's son, Winthrop Jr, Elvin's grandson, during the 1950s to 1960s.
As the Elvin Dailey Company was as its peak in 1900-1901, the Dailey family decided it was time to design and build a new home. They used the services of a well-known neighbor and architect- Joseph E. Mills to design their new 4,000 sq. ft home which was just a couple of blocks from their previous home on Hancock Street.
Upon the completion of the home in 1901, the Daileys took up residence and began making the initial memories within its walls. Nevertheless, their stay in the home turned out to be shorter than they had anticipated due to various factors:
First, Edith Dailey, the eldest child of Elvin and Lina, married John Stalker in 1908. John Stalker was the Vice President of the Union Trust Company and they lived in a very nice home on North Ferry Street right after they were married. [Eventually Edith and John lived in large lake front home on Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe)
Edith lived in the home at 4806 [264] Avery for about seven years.
Second, Winthrop Dailey, the youngest child of Elvin and Lina, married Kathleen Thompson in 1910. They lived in Detroit for a couple of years and then moved to Saginaw and remained there. Winthrop lived in the home at 4806 [264] Avery for about nine years.
Kathleen Thompson was the daughter of the Detroit Mayor William B. Thompson. William Thompson served as Mayor for two terms from 1907-1908 and 1911-1912. After he was mayor, he formed the Cadillac Square Improvement Company which built the Cadillac Tower and the Cadillac Square Apartments, and many other buildings in the city.
Third, Lina Dailey, the wife of Elvin and mother to Edith and Winthrop, passed away in February 1912 of double breast cancer. She was only 54 years old. According to her death certificate, she had known about the cancer since March 1911 and she passed away at Edith's home on Ferry Street. Lina lived in 4806 [264] Avery for about 11 years.
Lastly, Elvin Dailey, passed away in August 1915 at his summer home on Hickory Isle, Detroit. However, backing up a few years, Elvin remarried in December 1913 to Sarah Cummings. They were married for less than two years before Elvin passed. And Elvin lived in his home on Avery Street for 14 years - probably less than that as he had a home in Florida in the winter and a summer home on Hickory Isle.
After Elvin's death, his widow Sarah, sold the home in 1915 and moved east to North Carolina where she lived until she passed in 1947.
The 1910 Census Record of the Dailey family @ 4806 [264] Avery
The above document is a copy of the 1910 Census Record of 4806 [264] Avery. This census was taken on April 5, 1910. The Dailey family is the 4th family from the bottom. The information on this census doesn't tell us anything new or different about the Dailey family than what was already known. Edwin Dailey was 55 years old, Lina was 53, and Winthrop was 20. Edwin and Lina had been married for 30 years and Lina gave birth to three children but only two were still living. Elvin's occupation was a Pickles Merchant and Winthrop's occupation was a Pickles Dealer.
However, there was one surprise/interesting fact learned from this census - the Daileys had a live-in servant, Ruby Lennox. In 1910, Ruby was 21 years old and was born in New Hamburg, Canada. She immigrated to the US two years prior in 1908. There is a record of her working for the Daileys in 1909 and in 1911. Ruby then married Alfred Sitter in 1912, and one can assume that is when she left the Daileys to live with her husband.
Newspaper Articles & Documents of the Dailey Family
[in chronogical order]
After Elvin Dailey passed in 1915, the home was put on the market. It was sold later that year to William and Elizabeth Dronberger who converted the large home into apartments. The Dronberger/Scott/Price family owned the home at least until the 1950's.
Family # 2: The Dronberger/Scott/Price Families
Years Lived at 4806 [264] Avery: 1915 - 1950 (approx.)
William R. Dronberger
Born: May 18, 1849; Rootstown, Ohio
Died: December 16, 1928; Detroit, Michigan
Father: Elias (b. 1814; Pennsylvania - d. 1880; Ohio)
Mother: Isabella Lucy McCain (b. 1820; Ohio - d. 1885; Ohio)
Elizabeth Gonder
Born: July 15, 1881; Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada
Died: February 26, 1943; Detroit, Michigan
Father: Hervey (b. 1846; Canada - d. 1916; Canada)
Mother: Mary Ann Menzier (b. 1820; Ohio - d. unknown)
William and Elizabeth Dronberger bought the large home at 4806 [264] Avery in 1915 and converted it into apartments. They lived in the home with their two children: Vera and Vernon.
Vera Duncan
Born: September 4, 1900; Detroit, Michigan
Died: November 1980; Birmingham, Michigan
Spouse: Henry Price (b. 1891; Michigan - d. 1964; Michigan)
Marriage: 1923 in Flint, Michigan
Divorce: 1929
Children: Two
Vernon Dronberger
Born: 1915; Detroit, Michigan
Died: Unknown
Spouse: Unknown
Marriage: Unknown
Children: Unknown
Before William and Elizabeth Drunberger were married, Elizabeth was previously married to a John Duncan - Vera's father. Information about John Duncan and Elizabeth's early life wasn't easily found through online historical research.
William Drunberger was also previously married and had a family with a women named Minnie Warren in Rootstown, Ohio.
William and Elizabeth, unknown on the year they moved to Detroit, were married in Essex, Ontario, Canada in 1905. William was 50 years old and Elizabeth was 24 years old.
According to their 1910 Census, William, Elizabeth, and Vera lived in a home they rented on Elizabeth Street - on the corner of John R Street. William was a grocery store clerk and Elizabeth was a stay-at-home mother taking care of 10 year old Vera.
Just five years later, the Drunbergers saw an investment and business opportunity [assuming of course] and bought the home at 4806 Avery and converted it into multiple apartments - and they lived in one of them.
The 1920 U.S. Census
The image above from the 1920 Census, there were eight apartments within the home. At this time, it was William, Elizabeth, and Vernon living together - Vernon was born in 1915. William was 71 years old, Elizabeth was 37 and Vernon was 5 years old.
The daughter, Vera Duncan, rented a room at a house just two blocks west at 4490 14th Street. and worked as a waitress. [source: 1920 Detroit City Directory]
It would be almost impossible to research and find all the people that lived in these 'Avery Apartments' but the city directories and census records can briefly shine some insight into the names of some of these residents.
*Also in 1920/1921 was the year when the large Detroit renumbering project came into effect. As stated in the beginning, the original address was 264 Avery and it was officially changed to 4806 Avery in 1920/1921.
Sadly, on December 16, 1928 William Dronberger passed away at Grace Hospital due to bronchitis pneumonia & prostate cancer - he was 79 yers old. William lived at 4806 Avery for 13 years.
A little more than a week later, Elizabeth Dronberger remarried for the third time to John W. Scott. It was also the third marriage for John Scott. He was 57 years old and Elizabeth was 45 years old.
John W. Scott was born in 1871 in Lucas, Iowa. He lived in Indianapolis in 1900 and married one of his wives that same year. Because of how common his name is, it's difficult to find concreate information about his early life.
*After hours of searching, there is no 1930 US Census record of 4806 Avery. At this time, there was a person knocking on each door retrieving the data from all the homeowners. I found the census record of that entire block of Avery Street, but no there wasn't a listing for 4806. Either Elizabeth and/or John were not home when the data was being collected.
However, there is still the 1930 Detroit City Directory:
After ten years of being married, sadly, John Scott passed away in 1940. There is only a brief record on Ancestry.com of his death. There isn't a death certificate or newspaper article online that was easily available. John Scott lived at 4806 Avery for 10 years.
Again, there isn't a 1940 Census record of 4806 Avery - similar to the 1930 Census story as I'm assuming as well. Also, city directories and other historical records become more scarce as the years start getting closer to current day. So there isn't any city directory listings for 4806 Avery after the late 1930's either.
The next event for this house was in February of 1943 which was the death of Elizabeth Scott - aka Elizabeth Drunberger - aka Elizabeth Gonder. She lived at 4806 Avery for 28 years.
According to Elizabeth's death certificate, her daughter, Vera Price [Duncan] was also living with her at 4806 Avery. Once can assumed that she may have moved back after her divorce or after John passed. Vera did also have two children she was caring for on her own. Vera continued to live at 4806 Avery through the 1940's and even in 1950.
The 1950 U.S. Census
This 1950 Census is the last historical record of 4806 Avery. The home was 8 apartments plus the part that Vera Price lived in with her daughter, Nancy Price.
The exact year of when Vera Price sold and moved out of 4806 is unknown and this time. At 80 years old, Vera passed way in Birmingham, Michigan - just outside of Detroit. She lived in and out of that home at 4806 Avery for about 30 years.
*Information about William and Elizabeth's son, Vernon, was not easily found online. I searched many ways on multiple genealogy websites - and nothing. I will continue to search and update this blog if anything is found.
4806 Avery has a remarkable beginning with the architect behind the home, Joseph Mills, who had a significant impact on Detroit and Michigan. The initial residents, the Daileys, were the first to reside at 4806 and shaped it into the home it is today. Over time, the house was divided into around 8 apartments, accommodating numerous families who also called 4806 Avery their home. If the walls could speak, they would reveal a wealth of stories, memories, successes, sorrows, and love.
Additional Articles about the designs of Joseph E. Mills
ความคิดเห็น