Current Owners: Kevin and Andrea Webber (2002)
YHF Tour 2002

This delightful Cape Cod house in the Normal Park neighborhood is the work of two well-known Ypsilanti architects: Ward Swarts, who designed the house in 1939, and Zack Gerganoff, who designed an addition in 1967 that created a new kitchen and a garage. The blueprints will be on display during the tour for those visitors intrigued to see how it all began.

Bancroft Brien, who commissioned the house, lived in it with his family for fifty-two years. Long-time residents of Ypsilanti still remember the shoe store on Michigan Avenue that Mr. Brien owned and operated for many years.

"Bancroft "Banky" Brien's shoe store had an x-ray machine that looked rather like a lectern or podium. You stood at it and stuck your feet through openings at the bottom and you could see your foot bones in a CRT at the top. Supposed to let you see if new shoes fit or squeezed your feet. As kids, it was fun to go in there whether you needed shoes or not. It's a wonder we still have feet." - Stephen Swarts

Two subsequent owners lived in the house for a total of only six years. Now, the Webbers, just the fourth owners in sixty-three years, are lovingly caring for the house.

The windows, woodwork, hardware, and several light fixtures are all original. The red oak floors are also original, except in the office where newly laid flooring was selected to match that in the rest of the house. Beautiful wormy chestnut, now next to impossible to find, panels the small, inviting library. Much-loved antiques, attractive accessories, and bright, cheerful art greet the eye at every turn.

Winter evenings in this charming home must be quite wonderful, with two working fireplaces warming the living room and the kitchen.

Tourgoers will enjoy the lovely front yard, landscaped just last year, and the backyard with its greenhouse, fireplace, and stone terrace.