William E. Scripps Mansion

This tour is SOLD OUT! Please call Rebecca at 313.833.1801 for wait list information

In 1916, William E. Scripps purchased 600 acres of land from the Haddrill family in Lake Orion to establish a farm, which he named Wildwood. One of the Haddrill farmhouses, as well as Scripps’ manager cottages, the dairy, beef and horse barns and implement shed remain intact within the Canterbury Village shopping complex. 

Scripps chose his talented brother-in-law, Clarence Day, to design his Norman revival house, completed in 1927. While built with modern steel and concrete structure, it was finished with traditional methods and materials. The house encompasses over 28,000 square feet in 67 rooms and includes 11 fireplaces. Within the house are elaborate woodwork, metalwork and stone and painted finishes, as well as Pewabic ceramic tile installations and stained glass inserts designed and fabricated by the Detroit Stained Glass Works. The house is now owned by Guest House, whose mission is to provide the information, education, treatment and care needed to assure that clergy, men and women religious and seminarians suffering from alcoholism and other addictions have the best opportunity for quality recovery.

Call Rebecca Hope at 313.833.1801 for more information.

The Detroit Historical Society's New Behind the Scenes and Historic Houses of Worship tours will be available online to members on Monday, March 9, and the public on Monday, March 23. Detroit Historical Society member benefits include priority registration for all tours and programs.

Event updates are made quarterly each year in March, June, September, and December.