Atkinson Avenue Historic District

Atkinson Avenue Historic District

Historic overview:

Atkinson Avenue was named in honor of William Francis Atkinson, in 1883. A Confederate prisoner, he courageously escaped and rose to the rank of the captain before leaving service in 1886. Atkinson had a commendable war record. Later, he studied law and was admitted to the bas after the Civil War.

Atkinson Avenue is made up of parts of five subdivisions: Joy Farm, Lewis Park, Jackson Park, Boston Blvd., and Guerold's Subdivision. The Boston-Edison Historic District west of the Lodge Expressway is composed of the same subdivision. All the land was incorporated into the city of Detroit in 1915. The peak building time for the area was 1915 to 1925, which corresponded to the building of the Henry Ford Hospital in 1915. Atkinson became a middle-class area of very nice homes. Doctors, ministers, real estate agents, salesmen, and a newspaper writer were among the area's first residents.

Each of the subdivisions had similar building restrictions. Homes were to be built 30' from the front of the lot line and building materials were to be solid brick, stone, cement, stone veneer, or stucco. Few buildings were of frame construction. All homes were to have full basements and ornamental fences of no more than five feet. Cost of construction was also specified to cost at least $3,000 to $4,000. The majority of homes were to be single-family residences. Unlike other subdivision residents, Atkinson Avenue residents did not file deed restrictions prohibiting non-Caucasians from purchasing homes. Today the neighborhood continues to thrive.