The Ferry family continues to lend its support to city

By Joy Hakanson Colby / The Detroit News

he Ferry family’s contribution to Detroit isn’t limited to history.

    Mason Ferry, whose great-grandfather Dexter Mason Ferry founded Ferry Avenue, follows family tradition when it comes to supporting Detroit’s cultural institutions.

    He took early retirement as a banker to become a working trustee of the New Detroit Science Center, which his late father, Dexter Ferry founded. What’s more, he rented a workshop in the Russell Industrial Center and brought tools from home to construct elements of installations for the Science Center’s grand opening on July 29.

    Mason Ferry’s grandfather Dexter Mason Ferry Jr. was a leading patron of the Detroit Institute of Arts from 1907 until 1948. During that time he was largely responsible for building the museum’s American art collection into one of the nation’s finest.

    W. Hawkins Ferry, Mason Ferry’s uncle, was active at the DIA from the 1940s until his death in 1988. He left the museum a rich bequest of 20th-century paintings and sculpture.

    Grandfather Ferry lived on Woodward and Farnsworth, where the DIA now stands.

    That’s the closest the clan ever got to taking up residence on Ferry. They moved to Grosse Pointe in 1914 and that’s where Mason lives today.

You can reach Joy Hakanson Colby at (313) 222-2276 or jcolby@detnews.com .

Upcoming tour

Don’t miss this rare chance to prowl through Ferry Avenue’s historic mansions.

* What: Preservation Wayne tour of Ferry Avenue.

* When: 10 a.m.-noon July 21.

* Where: Meet at northeast corner of Ferry and Woodward, in front of the Hecker-Smiley Mansion carriage house (on Ferry).

* Cost: $15 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors. Children younger than 10 are free.

* Questions?: Call (313) 577-3559.