Here’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own Henry and Clara Ford’s Detroit house. This is the first time it has been on the market in over 40 years. You can live in the Ford Motor Company founder’s house that features, among many things, a private library, servants’ quarters, and a second kitchen in the basement. And considering the prices for homes right now, Henry Ford’s Detroit estate is a bargain. 

How big is the Henry and Clara Ford house?

After living there for 40 years, owners Jerald and Marilyn Mitchell are moving into an assisted living complex. So the 7,200 square foot house is on the market. Featuring five bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, the spacious home sits on three-quarters of an acre. 

Henry and Clara Ford lived in the house from 1908 to 1915. With 1908 coinciding with the launch of the 1909 Model T, people constantly knocked on Ford’s front door wanting a job. So the couple moved to their Fair Lane estate in Dearborn partially because it offered “more privacy.” 

What are some of the Ford house features?

Clara Ford designed the house. Besides what is mentioned above, there is a large garden, a greenhouse, and a 1,100-square-foot carriage house that includes a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room. So that makes three kitchens in all.

Back in the day, there was no air conditioning. So exclusive homes had dusting and sleeping porches. These were screened-in areas to sleep during those hot, humid, Michigan summers. The bedrooms have numerous of these porches attached to them. 

Where in Detroit is the Ford house located?

The house is located in the historic Edison District of Detroit. This was where rich auto executives and business leaders lived in the early part of the 20th century. Other notable residents of the district included the seven Fisher brothers of Fisher Body fame, and the heads of Packard, Cadillac, and General Motors. 

It is nestled between Highland Park and midtown. You can even walk to the Motown Museum. And you’re within blocks of the Henry Ford Hospital, so you’re close to medical help should the need arise.

How original is the 1908 house?

When the two Wayne State professors purchased the Italian Renaissance Revival-style house in 1985, they began a restoration process to its former glory. The fixtures, toilets, bathroom tubs, and sinks are all original to the house. Since then, they have maintained it impeccably, including the grounds. It even has the original intercom system, though it isn’t working right now. 

So if you’ve ever dreamed of living like an auto mogul, this is about as close as you can get. Priced at $975,000, on Zillow, if you live in New York, LA, or Chicago, the price seems more than reasonable. Live in a historic house in the lap of early 20th-century luxury.