David Mackenzie House Address: 861/4735 Cass Built: 1895 Architect: Malcomson & Higginbotham Frank H. Blackman, a local insurance agent, hired the prolific firm of Malcomson & Higginbotham to prepare plans for a new home on Cass Avenue. The elaborate 2½-story Queen Anne home contains all of the familiar features on the outside, including cross-gabled roof, large chimney, corner turret and a host of other decorative touches. The interior is clad in beautiful woodwork, including carved oak fireplaces. David L. Mackenzie was born in Detroit in 1860. A product of the city's education system, he graduated from Capitol High School in 1877. Mackenzie attended the University of Michigan, receiving both Bachelor's and Master of Arts degrees. Mackenzie returned to Detroit in 1904, when he became the principal of Central High School. The following year, he purchased the former Blackman residence, where he lived with his wife, Esther. David Mackenzie died in 1926. Esther, his widow, remained in the home until 1935. Later uses for the house included a university women's building, offices for the theatre department and even a resale shop. However, in 1977, it was announced that the old landmark would be demolished to make way for new student housing, the ill-fated Forest Apartments. This announcement outraged many, including Preservation Wayne, a student organization on Wayne State's campus. The group not convinced the university to halt the demise of the Mackenzie residence, but raised more than $220K to restore the home to its Victorian grandeur. In the 1980s, the historic home became home to the Univerity Cultural Center Association (now Midtown Detroit, Inc.) and Preservation Wayne (Preservation Detroit). #Detroit #CassCorridor #MidtownDetroit #WayneState #QueenAnne #VictorianArchitecture #CassAvenue #archi_ologie #oldhouselove #casasecasarios #houses_ofthe_world #beautifulhouseoldandnew #RawDetroit #PureMichigan #PureMittigan #MotorCityShooters #PureDetroit313 #DepictTheD #VisitDetroit #Michiganders #IGersDetroit #detroit_igers #ThisPlaceMatters #ThisPlaceMattersDetroit #MichiganPlacesMatter #SceneFromDetroit #ThisDetroitLife #HellYeahDetroit #Local4 (at Mackenzie House)