![]() ![]() Most unique, a tiled Roman bath carefully hidden beyond a sliding cabinet. Another room is reminiscent of an underworld catacomb. On the rail of a roof deck an original security spotlight rests in place.ĭown in the basement, HFHA members found a bar and billiard room styled after an English Pub, an area where Bennett often conducted “Ford “ business. A sweeping staircase climbs to the second floor within a castle-like tower. A stunning feature is a black tiled, art deco bath complete with “porthole” window. Bennett’s “secret room” is now easily accessed through a normal doorway, eliminating the need to enter via the hidden fireplace door. Arched hardwood doors, marble accents and vaulted ornamental plaster ceilings provide the perfect setting for the current owner’s collection of Indian art. The architecture of the first floor seems to reflect Bennett’s artistic bent (in his youth he had studied art at the Detroit Fine Arts Academy). Since Ford was involved in the project, no expense was spared. Lewis has written that Henry Ford and Harry Bennett “designed the mansion with the enthusiasm of boys building a robber lair or pirate’s nest”. Towers, tunnels, spiral staircases, “switch” steps, secret doors, hidden rooms and many other unique security features were incorporated into its design, all to protect the Lord of the manner from “well wishers”, union men and Detroit gangsters. ![]() The man most feared for his ruthless treatment of Ford employees had reason to find refuge behind the gates of this fortress-like estate. Harry Bennett purchased the 154-acre (now reduced to 8.6 acres) site in 1929. After meeting at the Henry Ford Estate, 100 members were transported about 30 miles to the Geddes Road site traveling both by car and via the Dearborn Trolley, the latter piloted by HFE volunteer Otto Grau. Aneel Karnani, that HFHA members were allowed a once in a lifetime tour of the Bennett sanctum. Lewis and the extreme graciousness of the Castle's current owners, Felecia and Dr. The home that Ford's personal mercenary called his “Castle” exists today as one remaining monument to the controversial character that was Harry Bennett. An opulent yet schizophrenic structure whose composition seems the result of paranoia rather than opioid, so reminiscent of the Wellesian melodrama, that on entering one may expect to hear the word “ rosebud “ reverberate throughout its halls. High above Ann Arbor, Michigan's beautiful Huron River, stands the personal Xanadu of a man who could cynically be called Henry Ford's own Kubla Khan (or Genghis Khan, as many of those who knew him might have agreed). ![]()
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