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Detroit Photo of the Day

Allan

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Allan Metropolis

Allan

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Sunday, November 28, 2004

The Water Board Building was completed in October 1928 at a cost of $1,768,760.20. Its architect, Louis Kamper, originally planned for a 14-story building at the triangular-shaped site; however, the Water Board decided that they would build a 20 story skyscraper because of the high cost of land. The completed building was 23 stories, including the 3-story mechanical penthouse, and was one of its architect's last works.

11_28_04_IMG_3730.jpg

Water Board Building History

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rancenc
rancenc

Recent aerial view of downtown!  

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Brother Ray Whistle-Stop

Brother Ray

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I took a similar photo of the Soup Kitchen earlier this summer and showed it to my father. He was saddened by what has happened and then spoke of all the good times he had there while on business with auto suppliers back in the 80's. My one and only visit there in 1986 was a memorable visit. I couldn't believe how many people from the suburbs were downtown enjoying this place. It was packed! Matt "Guitar" Murphy (Blues Brothers) was playing there that night.

Such a shame that it was forced to close in order to make room for the non-existent casinos........

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SNWEB Whistle-Stop

SNWEB

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I took a similar photo of the Soup Kitchen earlier this summer and showed it to my father.  He was saddened by what has happened and then spoke of all the good times he had there while on business with auto suppliers back in the 80's.  My one and only visit there in 1986 was a memorable visit.  I couldn't believe how many people from the suburbs were downtown enjoying this place.  It was packed!  Matt "Guitar" Murphy (Blues Brothers) was playing there that night.

Such a shame that it was forced to close in order to make room for the non-existent casinos........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep.

After it sat abandoned, arson took its hold.

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Allan Metropolis

Allan

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Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Looking west down Atwater Street towards downtown. The Globe Trading Company complex is on the right. It was once the subject of a redevelopment that would have converted the building for residential use; however, nothing has materialized yet.

11_30_04_IMG_3433.jpg

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Allan Metropolis

Allan

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Boy, I can't wait to make it through the Boston-Edison district next time I'm in the city. Beautiful architecture!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Boston Edison is a great neighborhood. I only got to explore the area east of the Lodge though. I need to go explore the rest of it, but I probably won't do that until it warms up a bit. Whoever planned to curve the Lodge through the neighborhood was a real idiot. Instead of going straight through, they curved it, thereby requiring the demolition of probably 30 homes instead of 15. Not that it matters anymore. The damage is done. :(

I need to get my Boston Edison photos posted here, but I have about 100 of them and I cannot get them to compress down to anything below 100KB, which is way too large for my free photo hosting (bandwidth issues). I could lessen the quality more, but then they would look really bad.

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Allan Metropolis

Allan

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Good eye Allan, I never seen that in my pics. I wonder what it looked like,.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My guess would be that it was some sort of stonework, probably similar to what still exists by the front doors. The building is an old building. I believe that it was built in 1895. I could be wrong, but other buildings in the area were built around the same, so that date seems to make sense.

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SNWEB Whistle-Stop

SNWEB

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My guess would be that it was some sort of stonework, probably similar to what still exists by the front doors.  The building is an old building.  I believe that it was built in 1895.  I could be wrong, but other buildings in the area were built around the same, so that date seems to make sense.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Detroit tax DB says it was built in 1905

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Allan Metropolis

Allan

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The Detroit tax DB says it was built in 1905

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh ok. Tax records typically aren't the best way to verify construction dates, but I guess it is really all we have to go by. For instance that DB says that the Charlevoix Apartments were built in 1908, while other sources say that they were built in 1905. I still think it is older than 1905, but we don't really have any way of knowing for sure. All I can say is that the building has been modified significantly over the years. The windows are definately not the originals, and the cornice has also been removed.

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SNWEB Whistle-Stop

SNWEB

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Oh ok.  Tax records typically aren't the best way to verify construction dates, but I guess it is really all we have to go by.  For instance that DB says that the Charlevoix Apartments were built in 1908, while other sources say that they were built in 1905.  I still think it is older than 1905, but we don't really have any way of knowing for sure.  All I can say is that the building has been modified significantly over the years.  The windows are definately not the originals, and the cornice has also been removed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, it has had the dates wrong for some, but some are correct.

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