A SEVERE AND VICIOUS SERIES OF LIGHTNING STORMS swept through southern Michigan Friday morning leaving a famous Detroit-area landmark in ashes. Around 6:20 am a lightning strike tore into the Lathrup Mansion, sometimes known as the “house in the woods” in Lathrup Village.
Detroit News
The resulting fire destroyed practically all of the 10,600 sq. ft. house that was occupied by the daughter of the original owner and two of her adult children. They were all able to escape without injury, but have lost all of their possessions.
Louise Lathrop Kelley was a real estate entrepreneur in the 1920′s and bought a 1,000-acre tract of forest land just outside of Detroit for the purpose of developing it. She named the new town Lathrup Village and built the house for herself in 1923. The building was also used as the town hall and post office until the permanent municipal buildings were eventually constructed.
Pre-1940 photo courtesy of Lathrup Village Historical Society
The house was completely surrounded by natural woodland and the fire department was hampered greatly by the jungle-like growth that had to be partly cut down to gain access. The nearest hydrant was several thousand feet away also. Firefighting efforts were futile under the conditions and the 7-bedroom house with five fireplaces was lost.
WXYZ-TV has this video report:
The density of the surrounding vegetation is evident in this aerial photograph supplied by WWJ Radio:
Hat tip: Matthew S.
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