Historic 1925 Bishop Gallagher Residence is Detroit’s Largest Private Home

$6,999,000 | Built 1925 | 32,519 Sq. Ft. | 12 Beds | 8.5+ Baths | 2.06 Acres

This magnificent and timeless estate is currently for sale while it is still under construction. Come be a part of the resurgence of Detroit and own an iconic piece of Detroit history. From the moment you enter the Palmer Woods neighborhood you are surrounded by all of the beautiful properties located within its Elm lined streets and park like layout. The Bishop Mansion truly is a landmark property to the neighborhood and its rich history. The Bishop Mansion has had many of the larger construction elements already addressed. All new windows, new tile roof and copper gutters, all new electrical, plumbing and gas underground services prepped to be brought into the home. The exterior of the home has also had restoration work done to the brick and stone as well as throughly cleaned.

The carriage house and garage have been completely restored and renovated to showcase what can be done with the interior of main house. As for the main house there has been strategic demo throughout to allow for a whole new HVAC system thats been designed for home as well as plumbing and electrical. The home will come with all architectural and engineering plans as well as design plans that have meticulously been created to capture every square inch of the estate and serve the new owner for future completion. New buyers will be able to bring their own vision and unique design selections to the estate.

The Bishop Gallagher Residence

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Amanda K. Uhlianuk • [email protected] • 313-377-5770
RE/MAX Complete
Photography Credit: Skyview Experts

The Bishop Gallagher Residence, 19366 Lucerne Drive also known as 1880 Wellesley Drive, is one of the most architecturally significant properties in the Palmer Woods Historic District not to mention the largest house in Detroit by square footage. The main house boasts roughly 68-rooms and was designed in the Tudor Revival-style by the Boston architectural firm of McGinnis and Walsh. Construction began by the Fisher Brothers in 1925 and didn’t finish until 1928. It features a symmetrical façade with an arched entrance portico with a balustraded balconet above. The residence has massive two-story bay windows flanking the entry with cut stone details that contrast the red brick of the exterior walls, these details are carried out throughout the entire property. The front Foyer is flanked with arcaded parlors, a Formal Dining Room and Ballroom that are diagonally-oriented along the lateral wings of the first floor.The interior throughout is oak, tile, plaster, stone and masonry. 

Many of the materials for the home were shipped over from Europe, including marble pillars from Sicily and wood from the Black Forest in Germany. Many carved wood mantels, pillars, and staircase newel posts and caps are thought to have been hand created by European artisans. The residence also holds one of the largest collections of Pewabic glazed tile in Michigan. The interior also boasts an elevator and a chapel that plans to be reused as a movie theatre. The mansion has served for four and a half decades as the official home of the Catholic Bishop of Detroit. Bishop Michael J. Gallagher (1866-1937) was the first to live there, hence its name, followed by Cardinals Edward Mooney (1882-1958) and John Francis Dearden (1907-1988). The house was sold to a private owner namely, John Salley of the Detroit Pistons and then back to the church briefly until a private investment firm from Californian bought the home. Currently they have taken on restoring and saving the structures integrity for future generations to enjoy.