Roy D. Chapin: The Man Behind the Hudson Motor Car Company

XXI. New Homes for Old

CHAPTER XXI NEW HOMES FOR OLD ROY was very eager to accomplish various things on the * home front, not the least of which was a larger residence. He and Inez had moved into the house on Beverly Road on their return from their wedding trip in 1914, and even at the time had looked upon it as a temporary home. It had been ample enough at the outset, though with little surrounding lawn; but with the continuing increase of the family , it was less and less satisfactory. Once when three of the household were down with typhoid at one time Inez looked up the disease in the Encyclopedia, and was amused to read that typhoid was frequently the result of overcrowded conditions. As a matter of fact, there were many occasions when the Chapins hadn't a spare room for an overnight guest, due to space preempted by the growing menage. Roy and Inez agreed that such a condition was absurd. They both loved to entertain. They were obviously able to afford a sizable establishment, and most of their friends had already built homes commensurate with their means; but the Chapins were so happy as they were that time kept drifting by. Then, too, Roy's numerous activities and the strain on Inez caused by many additions to the family kept postponing action, for the choice and design of a new home was a job that they wished to tackle together, at their leisure, permanently, as an expression oftheir tastes andwishes. That would be a homewith significance. However in spite of the realization that action on plans for a new home was long overdue, Roy and Inez procrastinated. In the spring of 1924 when Inez was at Sapeloe Island, off the coast of Georgia, Roy wrote to her from New York. "That 199 2OO ROY D. CHAPIN letter this morning I found at the Ritz was a wonderful touch of sunshine, and such expressions from you get right into my heart. We are both agreed about the simple life, and a day in New York makes it seem even more desirable. Sapeloe has taught us to see a lot of each other, and since we always enjoy things this way—let's plan from now on for as much of it as possible." As far back as 1916 they had bought some property on Provencal Road, having in mind, even at that early date, the pleasure of building their own home. But it was a happy family in the little house on Beverly Road, the years slipped quickly by and nothing was done. However in 1924 Roy and Inez decided to begin to learn something about architecture. From time to time Roy purchased books on American houses by the outstanding architects of the day, such as Platt, Delano & Aldrich and John Russell Pope. Roy wrote from New York on March 12, 1924. "Bought a couple of books on architecture at Scribner's." Then added "Heard all the kids prayers and you should have listened to Jo prompting Sal as she said hers. Sally getting the last word or two in each sentence." Of evenings they would read and study the books and then compare notes as to their likes and dislikes. Gradually their taste took form and their ideas crystalized. Although during the next two or three years Roy was immersed in national and international affairs, house plans gradually took definite form. By the fall of 1925 Roy and Inez had pulled themselves together for final decisions on the new home that had been so long in contemplation. Then on November 14, 1926 their 5th child and third son, Daniel, was born. The Beverly dwelling was bursting at the seams. Inez has described the growth and fulfillment of their plans in a memoir, as follows: "We were agreed that we both liked 18th Century Georgian architecture, softened by the American tradition. In the spring NEW HOMES FOR OLD 2OI of 1925 we spent a week-end on Long Island observing and inspecting houses designed by the outstanding exponents of this style. Of all the houses we saw, we admired most those built by John Russell Pope, and selected him as architect. "Suddenly we decided to change the site of our new home-tobe . In December, 1925 we purchased property on Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Farms. It comprised about 7 ^ acres and extended along the shore of Lake...