John Harvey was a successful Detroit pharmacist and a longtime resident of Brush Park until his death in 1905. After initially building a home on this site, Harvey later had it demolished to make way for a far more elaborate residence. Designed by architect John V. Smith and completed in 1880, the new house still stands today as The Inn at 97 Winder.

Today, 97 Winder is considered one of the most striking surviving former residences in Detroit’s Brush Park Historic neighborhood because it still captures much of the architectural richness that once defined the area. Built during the late nineteenth century, when Brush Park was home to many of the city’s wealthiest residents, the house displays the elaborate detailing typical of high-style Victorian architecture, with ornate trim, decorative gables, and a complex roof line designed to convey status and craftsmanship.

Careful restoration has also played an important role in making this building a stunner. The work has preserved or restored much of the building’s historic fabric, allowing the house to once again reflect the elegance and craftsmanship that characterized Brush Park during Detroit’s Gilded Age.