Timeline

The William B. and Mary Chase Stratton House

The legacy of conservation and stewardship at the Stratton House has stretched decades, as far back as its first iteration on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit. The Strattons, as further explored in Dr. Thomas Brunk’s research, connected and found aesthetic value in preserving and utilizing European architectural elements in both iterations of their home. Their love of historical movements and design is beautifully preserved in Stratton House. This love was further manifested through three generations of the Brackett-Morison families: from the early days in the thirties and forties with Katy and Clare Brackett, to their daughter Marilyn and her husband Ayers Sr., and grandchildren from the 1950s to 2016 when we purchased the house. The home truly is an opus to the love of the Strattons, and every family working since to preserve this masterwork.

We were fortunate to have known Dr. Brunk for several years before his passing. We pulled on his deep knowledge of Pewabic Pottery and its history. Dr. Brunk was always generous with his time and helped us piece together the history of the house. He assembled information and wrote many little history lessons to help us understand the Stratton’s life and homes. The following illustrates one of his generous lessons.

– Phillip Morici and Joseph Nieradka, owners

1865

January 16th

William B. Stratton

Is born in Newfield, New York.

1867

March 15th

Mary Chase Perry

Is born in Hancock, Michigan.

1877

After the passing of her father, Mary’s family moves to Ann Arbor where they lived while her brother studied at the University of Michigan.

1881

After Mary’s brother graduated from U of M, the Perry family moves to Detroit.

1887

Clare Brackett is born.

1888

William Stratton graduates from Cornell University with a B.S. in Architecture.

1889

William moves to Detroit and works for architects Mason & Rice. It is believed that Mary and William met in 1889/1890 at the Detroit Museum of Art.

1896

Horace Caulkins hires his neighbor Mary Chase Perry to promote his Revelation Kilns during her travels demonstrating china painting. Horace was well known in both the Detroit social and business scenes, as well as nationally as a dental supplier. After seeing other designs, Horace designed his own line of kilns for firing dental enamel. Mary had begun using the Revelation kiln for her china painting and pottery glazes.

1898

William serves in the Spanish American War on the USS Yosemite. He held the position of 3rd Class Quartermaster.

1903

Pewabic Pottery

Horace and Mary open their first ceramics studio in a vacant carriage house on Alfred Street; the business becomes Pewabic Pottery.

1906

William, Mary and Horace join the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts as founding members, where they remain actively involved throughout their careers. This network provided a foundation for the success of Pewabic Pottery’s architectural tiles.

1906

Mary and Horace hire William to design the new Pewabic Pottery studio. Originally planned for Brush Park, the new facility instead is constructed on a deep lot on Jefferson Avenue.

1907

Pewabic Pottery opens at 10125 East Jefferson Ave. The original address was 2161 East Jefferson, until all Detroit addresses were changed in 1921.

1912

Mary hires William to design a house for her on East Grand Blvd, near Jefferson Ave. Mary lived at this house with her mother and sister, until they both passed away in 1914. In 1915, Mary moved in with friends while renting the house on East Grand Blvd. until 1918.

1912

William designs expansion for Pewabic Pottery, which includes the current Fabrication and Education areas.

1918

June

Mary Chase Perry and William Stratton Are Married

At the home of Horace Caulkins in Detroit. The length of their engagement or romantic involvement before their marriage is unknown, but they had been good friends for nearly 30 years. After they wed, William and Mary move into the house on East Grand Blvd. that he had designed for her. Eventually, the Strattons desired more space and think about designing a new home.

1918

Marylin (Brackett) and Ayers Morison are born.

1924

The Strattons visit Europe as a research trip for Pewabic’s largest installation, the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. They visited devotional spaces throughout Europe, as Mary studied the symbolism and imagery as inspiration for her project. The months-long journey was a kind of late honeymoon for the couple. During their travels, William and Mary collected furniture, windows and artifacts, thinking about their new house. Being Mary’s first trip to overseas, she was overcome at the sight of the exquisite tile work and gardens of the Alhambra, as well as Paris, Lisbon, Rome, Sicily, and the Azores. So inspired, she wrote in her journal, “If I can only hang onto this edge of feeling until I get home.”

1925

The Strattons begin planning a new home on Three Mile Drive in Grosse Pointe Park (on land Mary had purchased in 1916). During the design process, they realize they want to take many of the familiar features of the old house with them.

1927

The Strattons take up residence in a house on Jefferson Ave. while their beloved home is dismantled, and structural and architectural elements are relocated to the lot on Three Mile Dr.

1927-1936

While living at Stratton House, a few Pewabic employees took up residence with the couple at different times. Gwen Lux and Alexis Lapteff are both mentioned as living with the Strattons for some time. During the later years of William’s life, he began taking classes with Mary at Pewabic through Wayne State University (Mary was involved with founding ceramics programs at WSU, University of Michigan, and the College for Creative Studies). According to Mary, William loved the art of ceramics. “I have seen my husband as proud of a small jar which he threw on the wheel, as he would be of a ten story building which he grew from his brain.”

1936-1937

The Depression forced the Strattons to sell their home in order to keep Pewabic Pottery running. They then purchased a home at 134 East Grand Boulevard, next to the vacant lot where Miss Perry's first home had stood.

1937

Clare and Katie (b. 1890) Brackett purchased Stratton House from the law offices of Dykema, Jones and Wheat. Mrs. Stratton recommended the bank sell the house to the Brackett family, recalling upon their daughter Marylin specifically, stating, “I do believe that Mr. and Mrs. Brackett and their intelligent daughter had an unusual recognition of what might be termed spiritual items – quality – charm – atmosphere.”

1938

May 12th

William Stratton Passes Away

Suddenly of an embolism resulting from a streetcar accident.

1951

Stratton House comes under new ownership, purchased by (the Brackett’s daughter) Marylin and her husband Ayers Morison. Taking charge of her childhood home, Marylin proceeded to raise her own family within its legacy of design. Mrs. Stratton would continue correspondence with Mrs. Morison.

1961

April 15th

Mary Chase Stratton Passes Away

The loss of her home and husband was great for Mrs. Stratton who was then seventy-one years old. She continued her work at Pewabic Pottery for another quarter century. Towards the end of her life, Mary lived in a home on Cadillac Blvd. behind Pewabic Pottery until her death at age 94.

1966

Pewabic Pottery operates until 1966 under the able direction of Mrs. Ella Peters, who had been Mrs. Stratton's assistant since 1938. The Pottery was then closed (temporarily), and the buildings and contents were given to Michigan State University to be operated as an adult education center in ceramic art. MSU offered classes both for credit and for continuing education until 1981.

1970s (early)

Ayers and Marylin Morison renovate and restore the kitchen at Stratton House. They meticulously recreate sections of the cabinetry to accurately reflect the kitchen the Strattons had designed. The drawings are from Ayers’ hand and show the detail of the boxes and panels.

1975

Phillip J. Morici

Is born in Detroit, Michigan.

1977

Joseph M. Nieradka

Is born in Royal Oak, Michigan.

1981

The high cost of operation proved to be too much for MSU to continue operations, so the Pewabic Society was formed, a board of trustees was appointed, and Pewabic Pottery became the 501c(3) nonprofit organization that is still in operation today on Jefferson Ave., “dedicated to enriching the human spirit through clay.”

1984

Stratton House is listed for National Historic Recognition, shepherded along in the process by Marylin Morison.

2015

Marylin Morison passes away quietly in her beloved home. Her obituary speaks to her passion for this amazing property: “Another lifelong interest was her house and garden in Grosse Pointe Park which was designed and built as a collaborative effort by the architect, William B. Stratton and his wife, Mary Chase Perry of Pewabic Pottery fame. She devoted a good deal of time and care to its restoration and registration onto the National Register of Historic Places (1984). She will be remembered at her happiest there, entertaining guests and tending to her garden.”

2016

Phillip and Joe Purchase Stratton House

Their tenure as the home's next stewards begins. For the better part of 2016, Stratton House undergoes a deep cleaning and repainting of interior spaces. Waterproofing of the basement and the interior and exterior sump systems are installed.

2016-2020

Grounds Renewal and Rejuvenation

After consulting original photos of the Stratton’s front yard, the Taxus hedge was brought back along the sidewalk and front lawn. This recreated the enclosed front garden of the twenties. The rear woodland garden is planted with Thuja ‘Green Giant’ as well as Hemlocks for a strong backbone. The woodland floor is planted with various native shade plantings, giving a sense of an old, established woodland.

2017

Kitchen Renovation

The renovation of 2017 followed the Morison’s lead in maintaining the historic nature of a working Arts and Crafts kitchen. Layers of vinyl were removed from the floor. Although vinyl was originally used on the floor, the decision to paint the wood boards was made to continue the feeling from elsewhere in the house. To modernize the kitchen, Sub Zero and Wolfe appliances were installed and built into the existing layout, maintaining the integrity of the original 1920s kitchen. The bank of cabinets above the cooking surface was removed and stored for archival purposes. This opened the space to allow ample room for the exhaust hood.

2018

HVAC and sump systems are installed to cool the home and remove humidity in the summer months. Sump systems and drainage are addressed inside and outside the residence.

2019

Begin removal of feral trees around the property border. Initial border plantings are installed. Foundation Sugar Maples are planted along the boulevards, taking cues from the ancient specimen adjacent to the driveway. The Butternut tree is limbed up and shaped to accommodate the plantings. Orchard is plotted and the meadow established.

2020

Purchase of Adjacent Lot

Negotiations to purchase the adjacent lot from Ayers Morison Jr. begin, and a formal purchase is arranged. Foundation and perimeter plantings are added to the adjacent lot to provide privacy and create a meadow. A stand of Black Gums, Green Giants, Hemlocks, Katsura, and American Sycamore are planted to further join the properties.