Looking Back: Holmes Horse Farm

ST. CLAIR SHORES — In this photo from 1948, Florence Holmes is seen on horse, Elsie, in front of one of the homes on the property at 20215 10 Mile Road.

Florence and her husband, Fred J. Holmes, owned a fairly large tract of land at this address in the 1940s and 1950s. The original home seen in the photo was built about 1927. In 1940, another larger home was built next door; this home was later given the address of 20217. Additionally, there was a barn, a tack barn, a few other small outbuildings and a riding oval on the property.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Fred and Florence Holmes were involved in the Findlay’s Horse Shows, the first of which took place in 1945, possibly at the 10 Mile Road location. The horse shows took place across Michigan, and featured horse riding in various styles and demonstrations with horses and different types of horse-drawn buggies.

In 2023, the two Holmes houses are still standing, but the rest of their land has been developed for single-family housing and Princeton Elementary School.

To view this image and other historic photographs, visit the Digital Media Archive at http://sbrb-montage.auto-graphics.com.

— Submitted by Heidi Christein, Archivist, St. Clair Shores Public Library