Rose Terrace part 3/3 The Anna Dodge Estate

Completed in1935 and built during the great depression "Rose Terrace" was one of America's most beautiful and most luxuriously appointed residences filled with original European art and antiques that were once housed in the palaces of European royalty.

[@arbrimmer3813]

What a shame that beautiful home was demolished>These stately homes were one of a kind and far too many of these masterpieces were detroyed.

[@van84agon]

The house should not have been torn down, but it shouldn't have been build in the first place either. The decadence and indulgence is on an extraordinary level, and like so many of these houses - it just didn't last. A pointless waste. Glad many elements of the house were auctioned, would be interesting to see where these pieces now call home. very unusual documentary, so melancholy, yet this is one of the kindest portrayals of Mrs. Dodge...

[@colinhiggins4779]

A lot of people worked to construct that house, and it was skilled labor. Likewise, it had a large staff to support it

[@LuigiGodzillaGirl]

Injustice her fate was! This grand manor should have been converted into a museum celebrating the artisans who created these beautiful pieces, the life of the woman who made the house a reality, and the history of the automobile industry that made her dream possible.

[@mscarolynnigro]

I cannot believe this masterpiece was demolished in 1976 - it should have been preserved as a national treasure for future generations - are they completely insane in michigan?? what a tragedy.

[@pauledholm316]

WHO should pay to preserve these white elephants? Even the heirs wouldn't part with their inheritance to support it. It's nice that she used her wealth to support all those craftsmen so they could support their families and continue on creating other works.

[@brianrichards7006]

Like other persons who have commented, I am shocked that an architectural masterpiece like this house was demolished. It is probably irreplaceable today, and anything this outstanding should have special protections granted to it.

[@pauledholm316]

Meh...she hired an architect to create the exact same thing he did for other rich people, only on a larger scale. Impressive, and fine work, but a masterpiece? I don't think so. There really are a LOT of find old houses around that no one wants to pay upkeep for. We should not let the rich folks from generations past burden us with maintaining their vanity projects.

[@charliepc56]

My God!! How could something so magnificent be destroyed?? It takes ignorance on a grand scale to do such a thing!!!

[@dugyhoiser]

What happened was that Sotheby's auctioned off the interior furnishings as well as the architectural elements that could be removed. Then - it was demolished.

[@trvelnfool]

so sad. this home should have been preserved and opened as a public museum

[@DjmDjm-hl8pt]

Time rules everything….

[@Dina52328]

I gasped 😨 when I heard the mansion was demolished! Why or why was it destroyed- - it was an architectural treasure never to be built again. Rose Terrace suffered the same fate as other great mansions of that time like the Vanderbilt mansions in New York. So, so sad and what a waste. The city found it easier to destroy Rose Terrace than find alternate means to preserve and maintain it like, for example, what The Preservation Society of Newport County did for the palatial summer "cottages" in Newport, RI. The PS of NC saved those architectural treasures from the wrecking ball by making them tourist attractions but still preserving all their splendor and beauty. The "cottages" now attract millions of visitors from all over the world and bring a great source of income for the preservation of the mansions and I imagine for the city too. Unfortunately, the Detroit city lawmakers of that time were not interested in preserving this beautiful historical gem. Out of sight out of mind. At least Rose Terrace 🥀 is preserved in film. Thank you for the videos.

[@phillipwheeler7003]

Like so many other comments here, this magnificent home was demolished and should have been saved! Rare in history and outstanding design, it should have been deemed a treasure! I'll never understand the attitude of a city or state that would allow this to happen? Hard to believe it was only about 40 years old when razed? So sad!

[@josephcummings2892]

It is a tragedy for the ages to think this lovely masterfully designed house fell to the wrecking ball. I love to watch the video to admire all the beauty of the house and the furnishings. But the reality that it is gone is shocking.

[@Napp28]

The dreadful 70's style homes that now fill this space in Grosse Pointe are a sinful testament to the lack of foresightedness .... tragic. I own a bedroom set and a cabinet from this house, thanks to my great-grandparents who bought a few pieces at auction. Today, in Toronto, guests ALWAYS ask about the bed-set (18th century French) & I sigh that the room only has space for one of the two beds. Anna Dodge seemed like a mean grandma - making her grand-kids walk on the edge of the staircase carpet ... that aside, what a great house she built - shame on whoever managed the wrecking ball.

[@Napp28]

@Melanie Jarrett I agree. If you're going to own such a grand house you might as well let your grandkids enjoy it or at least build them a few play rooms of their own. Here is an interesting tidbit; by chance I stumbled on a house in Newport which to me looked like a version of this one; guess what? SAME ARCHITECT!! seems he just reused older plans and made it a little larger. The other house was built by Mrs Widener after she lost her son and husband in the sinking of the Titanic. If you google Miramar Newport RH you will see an almost exact copy of this home.

[@kevonmartini10]

Well, this wasn't depressing.

[@rebeccarowland2533]

Not

[@trackman174]

Unlike Europe, America keeps very little of its history. A estate such as this was not only a example of the extreme wealth in America during that time, but ways literally part of the history of Detroit. History lost forever. As the song says:"pave paradise and put up a parking lot"

[@josephcilone2860]

Does anyone know the name of the song at the end. So fitting to end the video and would love to know what song it is. ! Thanks !

[@topherv4229]

I grew up in Grosse Pointe and would pass by this historical and magnificent home often! I remember the auction of the furnishings and interiors before the house was demolished. I remember hearing that the home was offered (or allegedly offered) to the Grosse Pointe community as a Community house but Rose Terrace is next to the War Memorial Church and the War Memorial (The Alger home) which was gifted to the city. They did not need two (right next to each other) and they didn't have the funds (I don't think) to fully operate the two. I should research the history to see what Preservation efforts were made at this time.

[@evelyndunham1538]

I wish i lived back then i would had bought it from Anna Dodge

[@dugyhoiser]

This house was one of the most magnificent houses ever built in this country and yet it only lasted 40 years. What a horrible thing that says about America and Detroit in particular.

[@sandypompilii6901]

This mansion is huge, yet homey...comfortable and cozy.

[@soundrecordings2659]

It was eventually sold to a developer, and despite efforts to save the mansion for its historical significance, it was demolished in the summer of 1976.

[@brule1961]

When Eleanor Ford died she left a 15 million endowment for the upkeep of her estate. I believe it's now worth 95 million. I read that when Mrs. Dodge offered the estate to the city of Detroit, the mayor said they would need money for the up keep, she refused. I was surprised at that, considering how she loved the place.

[@starquant]

what happened to the house?

[@sandypompilii6901]

I enjoyed the video of Rose Terrace, but had a hard time listening to the host. A few times I had to leave it and come back, as I found him sounding very depressing.

[@mikewhite9717]

Almost all of the Trumbauer Mansions fell to the wrecking ball. Stotesbury spent his entire fortune, just maintaining Whitemarsh and no one was willing to spend the millions every year maintaining it. Lynnewood survived as a administration and a church that bought it. its elegant decor being mostly lost. It is the last of the great ones, but it is dire need of major repairs. All the wealth in this nation, and no one ever cared to save these landmarks of skill and craftsmanship. They were true works of art.

[@starquant]

That's awful... thank you for telling me. I just can't understand why people would do such a thing :(.

[@bduff007]

what a waste

[@HighSierraDawn]

The United States is ridiculous!

[@jrgnc1]

Entirely too much house for one person.