| Alexander Chapoton House | |
| Location: | 511 Beaubien Street Detroit, Michigan |
| Coordinates: | 42.3317°N -83.0406°W |
| Built: | 1885 |
| Architect: | Alexander Chapoton |
| Architecture: | Queen Anne |
| Added: | March 10, 1980 |
| Refnum: | 80001919 |
| Designated Other1: | Michigan State Historic Site |
| Designated Other1 Date: | April 21, 1980[1] |
| Designated Other1 Num Position: | bottom |
The Alexander Chapoton House is a Queen Anne style row house located at 511 Beaubien Street in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980.[1]
Alexander Chapoton was a descendant of one of the oldest Detroit families.[2] His ancestor Jean Chapoton was a surgeon in the French army, and was assigned to Fort Pontchartrain, arriving in 1719.[3] Jean remained in Detroit until his death in 1762.
Years later, Jean's descendant Alexander Chapoton inherited his father Eustache's[4] masonry business and a fortune to go along with it.[2] He later expanded his business and became an important contractor in Detroit, helping to build several commercial blocks and residences, including the Globe Tobacco Building.[3] He also served on the Water Board and was appointed to a commission that selected an architect for the Michigan state capitol.[3] Chapoton's son, Alexander Jr., joined the family business and eventually inherited a greater fortune than his father had.[2]
Chapoton built this house in the late 1870s as rental property.[2] However, Chapoton himself lived in the home until his death in 1893.
The house is a three-story brick building with its foundation placed at the edge of the sidewalk. The stone-faced basement raises the first floor several feet off the ground.[3] The facade is asymmetrical, with a three-bay first floor upper floors of differing height.[3] The brick and stone hoods over the windows vary from floor to floor.[3] It is believed that the first and second stories were once separated by cast iron panels which were removed during renovation.[3]
The interior floor plan is unusual, having space for Victorian Living hall. The interior still retains the original trim, staircase and parlor fireplace.[2]
When this house was built, it was one of a row of similar homes on Beaubien.[5] In the years following the house's construction, the area around it was cleared for commercial development. The development was especially prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s; as a result, only a few row houses remain. The Alexander Chapoton House is one of the last examples of Queen Anne style row houses in the city.[2]
The house was used as a rooming house for several decades. In the 1980s, it was purchased and renovated.[2] Currently, the first floor is art gallery, studios are located in the basement and offices are on the upper floors.