In French or English, La Fête d’Eté
really was the party of the summer

Editor's note: This version of the story corrects an error brought to our attention by the reader comment below. Thanks to the reader for pointing it out.

The house is a sophisticated French-inspired manor and the occasion was the Grosse Pointe Historical Society’s annual fundraiser last week. La Fête d’Eté – “the summer party” – held last Thursday (June 24), offered the public a rare look inside 355 Lakeland Road in Grosse Pointe. The gracious hosts for the evening were Tom and Diane Schoenith, owners of the Detroit landmark, the Roostertail.

Supper was served in the tented garden accompanied by the music of an 18-piece big band orchestra. Those participating in the docent-led house tours enjoyed Jack McCormick at the Grand Piano.

Co-chairs Suzy Berschback, Susan Hartz and Carolyn Candler welcomed 401 guests who strolled the expansive grounds filled with massive trees and special plantings, and toured the 7,000-square-foot residence designed by architects Crombie and Stanton. This French Provincial revival-style residence with a rectangular footprint was built in 1924 with a high-pitched hip roof in slate and an overall emphasis on symmetry throughout the façade. Crombie’s brickwork at 355 Lakeland was award-winning.

The drive circles a sculpture by contemporary Detroit artist John Piet and leads to a canopied entryway and the grand hall. The home has been accurately preserved and restored, and features exquisite plaster, woodwork and bronze hardware. The staircase features a stained glass window depicting Le Griffon, the ship on which LaSalle and Joliet sailed, on August 12, 1689, the feast day of St. Claire of Assisi, into the water we now know as Lake St. Clair. Father Hennepin named the lake in honor of the saint.

The house’s original owner, Henry M. Campbell, lived there with his wife Caroline Burtenshaw Campbell and their two sons, Henry III and Douglas, for 25 years. Campbell was founder, with Henry Russel, of the law firm that would become Dickinson Wright PLLC.

The Schoeniths, pictured below,  moved into the house in 1975 and are renowned as Detroit’s host and hostess extraordinaire. They are patrons of many organizations and events and have set the standard for elegant entertaining in the Detroit area. The Grosse Pointe Historical Society party was no exception. President Susan Hartz thanked the board for their hard work and the Schoeniths for their gracious hospitality. It was outstanding – the food, the setting, the surprise of the band on the upstairs balcony, the fun of the piano in the living room and everyone singing, the disco and on and on. Ask anyone.

Proceeds from La Fête d’Eté will be used to support the programs, activities and initiatives of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society that keep history alive in Grosse Pointe.

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