The district is a small island community composed of eleven structures, including seven houses, two outbuildings, St. James Episcopal Church, and the Michigan Central Railroad depot.

[6] The East River Road Historic District contains several homes built between 1840 and 1870, many of them by Gordon W. Lloyd.

[7] They are primarily Gothic Revival and Swiss Chalet in style,[3] of both limestone and wood, and heavily ornamented with gingerbreading.

[7] These homes were built for Detroit's affluent families, who sought clean and peaceful locations to spend the summer out of the unhealthy city atmosphere.

[7] Lloyd's Gothic Revival designs contributes to the ambience of the island, making it an attractive location for many of Detroit's most prominent 19th century families.

Dallas Norvell (July 28, 1825, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – March 5, 1888, Amerstburg, Ontario) attended the University of Michigan and was later a gentleman farmer on Grosse Ile.

[2] The house is constructed of grey stone, and has an ornamental chimney, intersecting gables with pierced bargeboards, numerous porches, and an oriel window.

"[2] After Lewis, Detroit mayor Kirkland C. Barker lived in the house, after which it passed to Frank Osburn.

[2] St. James Episcopal Church was constructed primarily with funds willed for the purpose by Lisette Denison Forth, a former slave.

[10] William's brother James donated the land for the chapel,[10] and the two hired architect Gordon W. Lloyd to design the structure.

[13] In the years since its construction, the church has undergone several repairs and had multiple additions, but the main structure remains substantially original and in excellent condition.

The Customs House was built in 1871 at what is now 7799 Macomb Street[17] to service the ferry and freight line being constructed by Canada Southern Railway.