A Home-Run Home
Bill Freehan spent years in the spotlight. The former catcher for the Detroit Tigers has played in the World Series. He was named an All Star 11 of his 15 years with the team. He won five-straight Golden Glove awards and ranks among Tiger career leaders in home runs, games played and at-bats.
When he retired from his career in baseball, he and his wife, Pat, decided to pursue a quieter life. So, they built a three-story, 4,300-square-foot cedar chalet perched above the tranquil shores of Walloon Lake in Northern Michigan.
The couple worked with T+C Cedar Homes to design and build the custom 19-room getaway. Though they were in search of a simpler way of living, Bill and Pat couldn’t shake adding some flash to their home. They achieved that through custom designs and innovative building materials. Some standout features include: energy-efficient log wall panels constructed from insulated and sealed hand-hewn white cedar; a dramatic hexagonal bay window in the master bedroom — a design first for T+C; and unique decking supports crafted from cedar trunks that were stripped, shipped and installed with the roots intact. Of course, you can’t overlook the impressive fireplace mantel carved by a former T+C partner, Pietro Vinotti. Featuring the Detroit Tigers logo and baseball motifs, it’s a beautiful reminder of Bill’s days spent at the ballfield.
