Robert H. Brown was among those who prospered from Detroit’s booming tobacco industry. He, along with his brother John, formed the Brown Brothers Cigar Company. Brown commissioned Almon C. Varney, one of the Detroit’s leading architects at the time, to design a residence for he and his wife Jennie at the intersection of Cass Avenue and West Alexandrine. The home is another fine example of the Queen Anne style typical of the era. In 1916, the William R. Hamilton Funeral Home, established in 1855, purchased the Brown residence. Erik Weisz (Ehrich Weiss), better known to the world as Harry Houdini (1874-1926), is generally considered to be the greatest magician to ever live. On October 24, 1926, despite having a fever of 104 degrees and experiencing severe abdominal pain, Houdini gave what would be his last performance at the long demolished Garrick Theater. During the show, Houdini collapsed and was admitted to old Grace Hospital. Erik Weisz died on October 31, 1926 at 1:26 PM in Room 401 of Grace Hospital’s John R. wing. His body was prepared at the Hamilton Funeral Home before being transported back to New York City. #Detroit #CassCorridor #WillisSeldenHistoricDistrict #MidtownDetroit #QueenAnne #VictorianArchitecture #ACVarney #archi_ologie #oldhouselove #casasecasarios #houses_ofthe_world #beautifulhouseoldandnew #deserve2preserve #TheAmericanHome #houseportrait #BrickStory #RawDetroit #PureMichigan #PureMittigan #MotorCityShooters #PureDetroit313 #DepictTheD #VisitDetroit #Michiganders #ThisPlaceMatters #ThisPlaceMattersDetroit #MichiganPlacesMatter #SavingPlaces (at Detroit's Art Center Music School) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMfHNb0jA1C/?igshid=s8yb8ekkaouc
