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Lmichigan
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Username: Lmichigan

Post Number: 3196
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 67.172.95.197
Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 8:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I researching the buildings of Lower Woodward, again, and have a few questions that some of you architectural buffs/Detroit historians may know about. I've searched the archives, and I was still left with no solid answers on these:

1. When was the H & H Apparel Building (Hughes & Hatchers) constructed, exactly (now replaced by the 1001 Woodward Parking Structure)? From the site archives, I was able to place it sometime in the 70's, but some seemed to think it was a reconstruction of an older building. Also, if it was built in the 1970's, maybe you guys also know who the architect was.

2. Exactly what year did the B. Siegel Company Building come down (at the southwest corner of Woodward and State next door to H & H Apparel, now replaced by the 1001 Parking Structure)? From the archives, someone guessed sometime in the late 80's or 90's that this historic building caught fire, but when was it demoed? It was very unique in that it had a cast-iron facade.

3. What year was the original Frank & Seder Company Building constructed? This is the shorter of the two Frank and Sedar Company Buildings at 6-story, and the exact address is 1447 Woodward. It is known as "Building F" of the Lofts of Merchants Row, and is the one furthest two the north. Kraemer Design Group told me that it was built sometime in the 1880's, is wood-framed, and was joined with the "new" Frank & Seder Company Building when it was built just to the south to make it one building. However, they don't know when it was constructed.

Thanks in advance.

(Message edited by lmichigan on February 18, 2006)
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Gistok
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Username: Gistok

Post Number: 1805
Registered: 08-2004
Posted From: 4.229.72.43
Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 2:15 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lmichigan, I was the one who said late 1980's was when the B. Siegel building caught fire. Unfortunately it was made of cast iron, and the facade probably warped from the heat. Had it been made of brick, the facade might have survived relatively intact, and MAYBE still been around as a restoration project. Unfortunately I cannot find exact documentation (beyond my limited memory) on the year it was razed.

However, I believe that demolition was done soon after the fire, since CAY would not have tolerated a twisted ruin on downtown's main street.

Besides being such a wonderful Second Empire style structure, it was probably the oldest surviving building on lower Woodward.

(Message edited by Gistok on February 19, 2006)
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Hornwrecker
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Username: Hornwrecker

Post Number: 835
Registered: 04-2005
Posted From: 63.41.8.83
Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 1:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

#3: 1881 is shown on the fire insurance map for the southern part of the building, the wood frame part to the north doesn't have a date noted.

There was a thread posted a couple of week ago about the Siegal building with some photos posted in it. I don't think it is still on the main page. The title of it was something ___ quiz.
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Rust
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Username: Rust

Post Number: 99
Registered: 08-2004
Posted From: 68.43.180.171
Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 6:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hornwrecker,

I think you are refering to this thread:

https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/62684/64842.html?1138457 671
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Lmichigan
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Username: Lmichigan

Post Number: 3204
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 67.172.95.197
Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 7:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hornwrecker, I was under the impression that the new Frank and Seders structure (south building) was completed in the 20's. Maybe, just maybe, the 1881 is for the old building.

(Message edited by lmichigan on February 20, 2006)
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Hornwrecker
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Username: Hornwrecker

Post Number: 841
Registered: 04-2005
Posted From: 63.41.8.119
Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 10:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'll look again at the later stuff when I get some time, but IIRC there wasn't any other dates mentioned, just the 1881 from this source.
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Lmichigan
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Username: Lmichigan

Post Number: 3215
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 67.172.95.197
Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 4:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks.

Does anyone have an answer to any of my other questions?
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Hornwrecker
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Username: Hornwrecker

Post Number: 844
Registered: 04-2005
Posted From: 63.41.8.251
Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 10:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I found 1447, and cleaning it up a bit in PS, the date looks like 1921, which is when the map is from, or 1881. You'd have to visit the Burton Collection to know for sure.

1447 Woodward

Here's 1075 just for the hell of it.

1075  Woodward

Both maps from 1921
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Lmichigan
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Username: Lmichigan

Post Number: 3220
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 67.172.95.197
Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 10:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks for the idea of contacting Burton. I had forgot all about them. Surely they will know the rest of the answers to my questions. Thanks for the cut out from the maps, too.

(Message edited by lmichigan on February 22, 2006)

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