In 1928 Black Bill Tocco one of the most infamous figures in Detroit's underworld moved his family into a two story, 8,000 square foot show home in what wolud later become the exclusive Windmill Pointe Subdivision of Grosse Pointe Park. Tocco raised his 7 children "2 boys and 5 daughters," in this show palace which sat on better than an acre of land. The property which is surrounded by wrought iron fencing, was constructed of brick and stone in an Italian villa style with a tile roof covering 6 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 kitchens, a main floor den, Florida room, upstairs den, billiard room, children's play room, library, formal dining and living rooms, a wine cellar in the basement, 3 fireplaces, servant quarters and much more. Amoung the more luxourious additions added at Tocco's request were a 80 foot swimming pool, gold leafed wall paper addorning the walls of the foyer "which is valued at $15,000 dollars," hand painted canvases of the Tocco family on the cathedral like living room ceiling and rumored tunnels for a quick getaway that have yet to be discovered. The grounds lusciously arranged, consist of dozens of Italian marble statues, a 3 foot lighted reproduction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and sunken gardens located throughout the property amoung the many trees and flower arrangements. A view of a 60 foot grape trellis is clearly visible from the window of the massive family room. These grapes were grown by Tocco who would produce his own special blend of wines for visitors and dinner use. Adorning the walls of the bedroom Tocco had another shade of the Gold leafed wallpaper installed at a considerable cost. The old home appraised at $450,000 in 1985 is now owned by Grosse Pointe realator Jim Saros who has undertaken some modernization of the home but has attempted to keep the original splendor of the home in tact.
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