08/21/2026
Brookby. Blodgett Estate's greenhouse, built 1926. Land subdivided. Main house, Brookby untouched.
Per: Ryan Wendt, Aquinas College Historical Commission - the glass section of the greenhouse was taken down in 1973. It was donated to and became part of Windmill Island.
Vintage EGR: A Peek at the Past - Brookby
cMary T. Dersch, curator, East Grand Rapids History Room.
“Brookby”, or the Blodgett estate, 250 Plymouth Road SE, located on the southeast corner of Plymouth and Robinson Road in East Grand Rapids, was built during the years 1926 – 1927 for John Wood Blodgett, Sr. (1860 – 1951) and his wife, Minnie Alice Cumnock Blodgett (1863 - 1931).
John was the son of Grand Rapids lumber baron, Delos Abiel (1825 – 1908) and Jane “Jennie” Wood Blodgett (1841 – 1890). He became involved in his father’s lumber empire at the age of 18. One of the most wealthy and influential business leaders in Grand Rapids, John was involved in banking and philanthropy, especially when it came for the care of the health and welfare of women and children. Counted among his accomplishments, he was: Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in the 1920s, an aide to President Herbert Hoover in the 1920s, investor in an early Grand Rapids newspaper and the new cable car business in Grand Rapids in the early 1880s. He spent 25 years on the board of the U.B.A. Hospital (Union Benevolent Hospital) on Lyon Street in downtown Grand Rapids.
In 1914 the couple donated land and money for a new hospital. When complete in 1916 it replaced the Union Benevolent Association Hospital in which the couple and his mother had been involved. John dedicated the medical facility to his mother Jane Wood Blodgett. Located at 1840 Wealthy Street SE in East Grand Rapids it was named Blodgett Memorial Hospital.
John and Minnie Blodgett moved into their new house in 1928. Mrs. Blodgett named the estate “Brookby” because a brook (Coldbrook Creek) ran by it through the backyard. Coldbrook Creek is fed by Fisk Lake and runs to the Grand River. Brookby house has been on The National Register of Historic Places since 1983. This honor deems it worthy of preservation. It is not, however, protected from demolition.
“The National Park Service, the agency administering the Register, says this “Under Federal Law, the listing of a property in the National Register places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property up to and including destruction, unless the property is involved in a project that receives Federal assistance, usually funding. . . and do not restrict an owner’s ability to renovate or even destroy a property.” https://kirkfarms.com/can-you-tear-down-a-home-on-the-national-register-should-you/ https://tinyurl.com/3tun2fcc.
A classical Georgian Revival style, red brick home, Brookby was designed by Walker & Gillette Architects of New York City: Leon Narcisse Gillette (1877-1945) and Alexander Stewart Walker (1875-1952). The Grand Rapids construction firm of Owens-Ames-Kimball (est. 1891) built it. When completed, the 14,830 square foot main residence included outbuildings: a gatekeeper's house, gardener's house, chauffeur's house, and an eight-stall garage for cars – especially Packards – the family favorite. Included in the original home were 9 bedrooms, [6] bathrooms and 2 half baths, den, library, painted wall murals, and circular wrought iron staircase. The interior featured marble and parquet floors. The grounds consisted of 8 landscaped acres with a fountain and reflecting pool. The gardens were notably designed by the Frederick Law Olmstead firm of Frederick Jr. and John C, under the name Olmsted Brothers. Their father, Frederick (1822 – 1903), had designed New York Central Park in 1858 and the landscaping of the Chicago Columbian Exposition/World’s Fair of 1893 – and many, many other outstanding gardens.
John Wood Blodgett, Jr. took up residence in Brookby after his father’s death in 1951. He first had to purchase the estate from Blodgett Memorial Hospital to whom his father had willed the estate. Mrs. Edith Irwin Blodgett, John Jr.’s widow and third wife, whom he married in 1966, sold the home a few years after his 1987 death. She passed in 2012. The philanthropic couple had been generous patrons of Grand Rapids art and music and also carried on the family’s involvement in community development and charitably work. Grand Rapids culture, society and community have greatly benefited from the generosity of this premier family.
Brookby ownership timeline, 1990 –
1990 The house was sold to Grand Rapids real estate agent Lloyd Clarke “Corky” Paul.
1991 The house was up for sale again. There was talk of subdividing the acres of property.
1992 In January 1992 the public was invited in for a large estate sale.
According to Mrs. Edith Blodgett, “There were no Blodgett family items for sale.” They had all been previously removed and distributed among Mr. Blodgett’s daughters and other family members. Plans for tearing down structures and building new structures on the estate were made, but never came to pass.
The “Committee to Save Brookby” formed.
The mansion was sold the end of January 1992 to the newly formed “Brookby Preservation Trust.”
In June 1992 the house was put up for sale by the Trust.
Hospice of Greater Grand Rapids declined an offer to purchase the main house for administration offices because costs of renovation were too great. The accompanying lots of property would have been subdivided for houses.
1993 In 1993 the Integrated Architecture firm stepped up for a possible purchase, asking the City to change the status of the property from residential to a planned unit development. They would like to use Brookby for offices, while leasing the four smaller houses on the property.
In direct competition, a local couple stepped forward offering a cash payment to purchase Brookby.
The cash offer fell through and the architecture firm withdrew their offer citing the City’s preference that the properties remain residential.
1994 The Hugh Sullivans, East residents, purchased Brookby.
1997 Brookby is offered for sale.
1998 Local real estate developer Sam Cummings purchased Brookby. His company at the time was Second Story Properties, a Grand Rapids construction and real estate firm. Its mission was to preserve old buildings with all their cultural and historical significance for present and future generations.
During these years the City voted to accept Cummings’ PUD plan to create a condo association between the four outbuildings on the Brookby property.
Mrs. Edith Blodgett delighted in knowing that the Cummings family loved residing at Brookby, and was interested in historically preserving the Blodgett Family estate.
2011 Cummings donated the Brookby mansion and a large part of the estate to Aquinas College in the fall of 2011. The college used the house as its president’s residence. (https://www.aquinas.edu/news/posts/historic-Brookby-estate-donated-aquinas-college.html)
2025 In May Aquinas College placed Brookby on the market.
FRIENDS: If you have a memory, a photo or an artifact to share with the East Grand Rapids History Room please contact Mary T. Dersch, curator, [email protected] or 616-241-2092
Visit the City of EGR History Room during regular library hours. 746 Lakeside Dr SE.
Follow the East Grand Rapids History Room on Facebook to learn about all things EGR!
Website: https://www.eastgrmi.gov/ Then choose: “About”
Sources:
“1991 in Review.” Cadence, December 30, 1991 p1.
Blodgett Family Papers. University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. findingaids.lib.umich.edu/catalog/umich-
bhl-85137. Accessed January 21, 2026.
Buursma, Madalyn, Wood TV8, “8-bedroom East Grand Rapids manor with lakefront access listed for $3.3M.” https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/aquinas-lists-8-bedroom-10-bath-manor-for-3-3m/ Accessed January 21, 2026.
Dersch, Mary T., Interview with Mrs. Edith Irwin Blodgett, East Grand Rapids History Room, March 15, 2007.
Lovell, Susan. “The Blodgett Estate: Waiting patiently for the right family.” Cadence, May 2, 1990 p20-21A
Operation of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 1921. Chicago: The Reserve Bank, p2.18.
Polk, R. L. Grand Rapids City Directory, various dates.
World Forestry Center. “John Wood Blodgett, 1860 – 1951.” https://tinyurl.com/snwhep24, Accessed January 21,2026.
