Metaldoctor Member Username: Metaldoctor
Post Number: 113 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 2:49 pm: | |
http://detroit1701.psc.isr.umich.edu/Hurlbut.htm I am grateful for the opportunity to recreate all the architectural ornamental metal work that enhance and secure a national treasure such as ours. More power to the people who made this project happen.
As spring approaches we start to think of rebirth. The Detroit Waterworks Park Chauncey Hulburt has been rejuvenated and may it be a part of regeneration of the city.
This project is the first, accredited to the craftsmen of new formed the architectural ornamental metal academy and museum of Detroit opening this year. |
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors
Post Number: 759 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 2:56 pm: | |
where is it opening? I love waterworks park and wish that it would reopen it has been hidden from public view for far too long. |
Detroitman32 Member Username: Detroitman32
Post Number: 6 Registered: 03-2008
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 3:00 pm: | |
This is great! One more gem saved by awareness and empathy. |
Neilr Member Username: Neilr
Post Number: 677 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 3:02 pm: | |
Your pictures are wonderful to see. Did you replace the front gates that were stolen a number of years ago? |
Fishtoes2000 Member Username: Fishtoes2000
Post Number: 457 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 3:49 pm: | |
Does anyone know of plans to put the "Park" back into Waterworks Park? |
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors
Post Number: 761 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 4:02 pm: | |
Fishtoes, From My research a few years back It seemed they always looked at reopening waterworks as a security threat. It was closed during war time and then after the lake became contaminated in the they filled it in tore down the tower and closed it to the public. There have been effort made to reopen the park but to my recollection all have been unsuccessful. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 6483 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 4:04 pm: | |
Thanks for the nice pics and great work Metaldoctor! Unfortunately you got to experience something that the public at large has not been able to experience in over half a century... that is to see the Hurlbut Gate from the front (water) side with the squared off Horseshoe staircase. Granted, it keeps the rif-raf out (like the ones that long ago stole the bust of Chauncey Hurlbut from its' central perch), but for all of us it's like a forbidden treasure that we are forbidden to view from the best angle. And from Jefferson, the widening of Jefferson in the 30's has shorn away the landward landscaped approach. Although I deeply appreciate that it has been restored, for most Detroiters it is just an oversided fence ornament that is only seen while whizzing down Jefferson. As I've mentioned on this forum (ad nauseum)... this Beaux Arts architectural confection suffers from a poor location, and maybe one day it can be moved to a more prominent location where it can be appreciated on a vastly greater scale. 2 locations I've always fancied are either the central landward approach or Island Floral Clock location of the Belle Isle bridge. I've always felt that this gate (the staircase) would make a great place for Wedding photo ops. (Message edited by Gistok on March 14, 2008) |
Fishtoes2000 Member Username: Fishtoes2000
Post Number: 458 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 4:06 pm: | |
Thanks, Urbanoutdoors. Maybe between the Jefferson East project and the Riverwalk, we'll see some success in opening this part of the river down the road. |
Detroitjim Member Username: Detroitjim
Post Number: 11 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 6:30 pm: | |
The only thing that missing is Chauncey's bust.It should be atop of the marble pedestal. Metal thieves had stolen it sometime in the early 80's |
Dannyv Member Username: Dannyv
Post Number: 124 Registered: 08-2007
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 6:46 pm: | |
You did a great job metaldoctor, congrats. It would be welcome if our local media would educate it's viewers on the beauty and bounty of the city around them by short segments detailing the history and significance of the buildings, parks and statues we're mostly ignorant about. It works well on CBC, channel 9 OK. It would do loads towards appreciating the metaldoctors craft and skill. Good one. I have about 200 postcards of Water Works Park from the early 1900s to the 1920s. Many are duplicates of the same image but printed by a different publishing company. I thought there was talk of building an academy on the grounds of WWP to educate the public about water treatment and promote interest in it as a career. |
Frankg Member Username: Frankg
Post Number: 220 Registered: 08-2007
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 8:51 pm: | |
Wow, the restoration is great! I used to work on Jefferson 2-4 years ago, and remember seeing a tree growing out of the top of the memorial. I am glad to see that is gone in your photos. |
Rel Member Username: Rel
Post Number: 436 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 8:56 pm: | |
Metaldoctor- THANK YOU! The pics are fantastic. I drive past the gate quite often and smile every time I see it. |
Buyamerican Member Username: Buyamerican
Post Number: 500 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 9:18 pm: | |
I have many memories of climbing those stairs and standing on the overlook towards Jefferson. It was like a huge fort in my mind when I was a child. The park was open for some time after the war, I have pictures on the grass next to the pool when I was probably around 6 or 7 years old, early 1950's. |
Patrick Member Username: Patrick
Post Number: 5266 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 11:35 pm: | |
I really really hope that it will not be trashed in the next few months. I get the feeling that it will be though. I get the feeling hood rat is going to smash those lights and ruin it. |
Alley Member Username: Alley
Post Number: 76 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 11:50 am: | |
Awesome! When I was little I wanted to get married on the memorial because it reminded me of the top of a wedding cake. I still think it would be cool to get married up there |
Detroitbill Member Username: Detroitbill
Post Number: 534 Registered: 09-2006
| Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 12:47 pm: | |
Great work MetalDoc.. we are lucky to have you to preserve these gems |
Hans57 Member Username: Hans57
Post Number: 289 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 11:49 pm: | |
In regards to gems, whats the low down on the statues that were atop the Wayne County building? I heard they're being restored, they've been gone for couple years now. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/13/JMRWayneCoBldg2.jpg (Message edited by hans57 on March 16, 2008) |
Metaldoctor Member Username: Metaldoctor
Post Number: 114 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 12:04 pm: | |
I Love Detroit and would love nothing more than to bring back a semblance of its former beauty and to the public's attention however, I'm only able to participate on projects that request my skills, but every once in a while I come across a project were my skills are most vital and of the greatest significance in the determining the outcome a project…..The Hurlbut Memorial in this case. Please view the attached link for more information on this project. http://www.canarthandworks.com /index_files/From_Germany_with _Love.htm |
Dan Member Username: Dan
Post Number: 1513 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 12:31 pm: | |
Beautiful work Metaldoctor! |