  Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 562 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.169.65 |
Anybody know anything about this building on Adams? I believe it's three addresses west of Woodward. Proof is on the corner >>> that way. That blue awning is the Fyfe Apartments.  later - naturalsister P.S. Congrats to me on posting my first photo. It took me 20 minutes to get the file size right. | ||
623kraw Member Username: 623kraw Post Number: 877 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.224.200 |
This one has been asked on this board before and not sure if ever answered... | ||
Wolverine Member Username: Wolverine Post Number: 136 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 24.231.201.120 |
I always thought that was a strange looking building. It looks like it should be 10 times taller. | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 540 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123 |
The exterior screams bank branch, but I'm only guessing. I've wondered about the history behind that building for a while, too. | ||
Detroitduo Member Username: Detroitduo Post Number: 567 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 194.138.39.55 |
I thought it used to be a bank branch, too. I know there's a sign outfront suggesting it as a great opportunity as a restaurant or night club. Actually, either of these options would be really great there. Has anyone ever been inside this building? I'm curious if it is bank-like inside, too. | ||
Malcolm_t Member Username: Malcolm_t Post Number: 9 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 68.43.107.91 |
Possibly Victor Lims??? | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 563 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.169.65 |
What's Victor Lims? later - naturalsister | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1532 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.187.234 |
Naturalsister - check out this thread. Not a ton of info, but some: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/23585/48102.html | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 172 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234 |
Victor Lims was in the fine arts building (insert Illitch bashing here__________________) It was a prominent downtown Chinese restaurant in the 60's. | ||
Downtown_dave Member Username: Downtown_dave Post Number: 59 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 63.77.247.130 |
I think this building was part of Michigan Mutual Insurance when they also had the adjacent tower (which is now called Grand Park Centre) on Grand Circus Park. Michigan Mutual, now called Amerisure Mutual Insurance, is headquartered in Farmington Hills. It was formed in 1912 by members of the Michigan Manufacturers Association to provide workers' comp insurance. Victor Lims was in the Fine Arts Building a few doors west. That spot later became a theater-themed restaurant called Back Stage, I believe... | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1533 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.187.234 |
Dowtown_dave - actually it was "off stage." Backstage was the gay restaurant (with "footlights" the piano bar) up on Woodward between McNichols and 7 Mile, the old gay hub. It burned in the early 90's (?) and moved to Royal Oak, where it met a quick demise. | ||
Downtown_dave Member Username: Downtown_dave Post Number: 60 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 63.77.247.130 |
Or was it "On Stage," Dial? -- I knew I was kinda shaky on that Back Stage name... | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 999 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.27 |
The Park Building? | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1089 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
I worked at Mich Mutual in the 60's, patronized Victor Lims, attending movies at the Adams theatre, bought model trains at the train shop in the Kales building, and even bought shoes in the 50's at Fyfe's on the corner of Adams/Woodward. But I can't remember a bank being in there,but there could have been a savings and loan bank there for a while. I do recall the Stage or On Stage "entertainment center". A prominent establishment along that West side Adams Street location,in the same block, was one of the three "Brass Rail saloons". but I think it was gone by the 60's. Great bars which advertised themselves as having "the world's longest bar". One on Adams, One on Mich Ave and one on Woodward near the Blvd. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1001 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.27 |
The 1930s map of the CBD identifies it as the Park Building.  From left to right: Kales/former Kresge Bldg, Ghurley Hospital (?), Fine Arts Bldg, Stroh's Bldg, Park Bldg, and the Fyfe Bldg. That's about all I can make out due to the resolution of the jpeg. | ||
3rdworldcity Member Username: 3rdworldcity Post Number: 214 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 64.53.238.2 |
The Partk Building was owned and occupied by Michigan Mutual for many years. MM decided to leave town and did not even attempt to sell either of the two HQ buildings (inclu the high rise next door.) Instead, it gave both buildings to the Det. School Board, which originally intended to put a school in the building (or one of them) but that never went throught. Three or four years ago, the School Board put the buildings on the market. No takers. Then, one of the City Pension funds bought the building for $7,000,000 (through a newly created subsidiary), a rediculously high price. To make matters worse, the Board is in the process (poossibly comleted) of investing another $7,000,000 in the building. Under no circumstances can the building yield a return on the Pension's money and the retirees have really been screwed. I'd love to know what kind of a side deal was made to induce the Pension Fund (or, the City) to do such a deal. For a long time, Michigan Bank had a branch there, but I believe it was in the high rise next door. | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 567 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.169.65 |
3world, The building you are talking about is the high rise one door to the west. Thanks though. later - naturalsister | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 1949 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.90.67 |
The high rise (Michigan Mutual) used to be the Stroh's HQ back in the 1920's. And it had a very fancy top with corner "wedding cake" towers. But that was remodeled when many buildings downtown were "modernized" (butchered is a better term). And yes, the restaurant in the Fine Arts Building was called ON STAGE. And (as Hornwrecker's map shows), the empty lot on that block used to be the Ghurley Hospital (or was it the G. Hurley Hospital?). | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1090 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
I think of Hurley Hospital, I think of Flint, the home of Hurley Hospital. But I think their founder was a James Hurley. Maybe he had a brother ( George) who decided to name a hospital after himself(!?) Or perhaps a misprint and the G should really be a J on the 1930 map. Which, of course, asumes that it was Hurley hospital in the first place. The plot thickens. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2433 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.167.58.14 |
Good point 3rdWorld. Qui Bono? Who benefits? Was there a commission on the sale. If so that is a chunk of change to wonder about. | ||
Michigansheik Member Username: Michigansheik Post Number: 122 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 69.242.214.54 |
that real estate deal is similar to the new detroit police department crime lab. meathe bought it for 2 mil, put up a couple pieces of plywood and sold it to DPD for 4mil two years later. 4 mil is the price after the DNews published the initial price of something like 6mil or so. Why can't i get into these deals? | ||
Gumby Member Username: Gumby Post Number: 1065 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.60.143.186 |
The Rock, Yup Hurley Hospital is up here in Flint. I do not believe the two are connect though. | ||
Nickstone Member Username: Nickstone Post Number: 1 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.41.91.235 |
I am just so happy to have found this site... as someone who was suburban-born it is wonderful to see that people have the amount of concern I have for downtown... am considering moving to the fyfe or to Lafayette Pavillion just for the experience. Does any other city have this amount of abandoned masterpieces? Awful. Thank god for those people who see worth in real architecture and construction and want to see our wonderful city come back to the vibrant place it once was... | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 777 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 136.1.1.101 |
Welcome Nickstone. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1092 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
hornwrecker- the area that remains a mystery to me is E. ADAMS, specifically the area between the Church and Chris Chilio's new pub in the(former) Women's Exchange Building. Other than patronizing Van Boven's clothing store (main branch was in AA -my favorite)) which was on that side of Woodward for a few years, I have no recollection of what stores/establishments were located on E. Adams. There had to be something!! Do you have a CBD ( 1930 or better yet, 1960) map of that area to show what was there? I don't recall even venturing crossing Woodward to shop./ eat etc. The activity all seemed to be along W Adams. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1009 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.147 |
The_rock, it looks like there were five storefronts between Central Methodist and the Women's Exchange. Unfortunately, it is impossible to read on this map, and the other maps that I have don't identify anything.  I'll check one more source, but don't have much hope. I need more, and better research material. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1094 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
Thanks for your efforts, hornwrecker. I gotta admit I have a tad ( whole lot of tad, actually) bit of trouble reading those names between the church and the Women's Exchange, but I assume that is the 1930 map. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1010 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.147 |
I can't make head nor tails of it either. It is from the 1930s, and a low definition scan; I don't have the original to check against it. Earlier map implies that the building is owned by the church, and shows six storefronts. I did find that there was the Girl's Club on the site of the parking lot earlier. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1095 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
Next to the Church might be "gifts" and the third store might be "flowers" Come to think of it, we used to walk down there at noon time when we were headed over to the old Downtown Y for a game or two of handball, but I guess I was looking straight ahead rather than windowshopping. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 818 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.212.209.43 |
that building (in between the church and women's exchange) is in fact owned and run by the church. they are pretty strict when it comes to tenants, as they don't allow things that are "morally unacceptable" such as bars, smoke shops, etc. i also seem to remember that those storefronts aren't very deep (further church uses are attached to the alleyway side), also limiting the size of a establishment moving in there. as far back as i've seen, that lot on the corner has always been parking. crossing over witherell, the north side of adams was the ymca then detroit college of law. across adams from those, as far back as i've seen, has also always been a parking lot. it seems to me that there wasn't the same critical mass of stores and venues that bagley and broadway enjoyed, thus limiting the pedestrian traffic and limiting the potential for stores. just a thought... | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1096 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
No wonder I never saw a law office in that group of tenants, rsa. We were relegated to the tall buildings downtown. | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 3060 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.252.9.218 |
Right on the corner of Adams and Elizabeth in that parking lot was a Coney until the Comerica Park construction. He was one of the first to sell. It took less than an hour to bulldoze that place into oblivion. Great cheap grilled ham&cheese sandwiches there. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1011 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.149.10 |
The 1921 Sanborn map of East Adams block. Too bad there is the blackened area over the building of interest, as is usually the case.  | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 579 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.255.236.166 |
I appreciate all of the information that you guys are providing, but QUIT JACKING THE THREAD. I need info on the building on WEST Adams. Don't make me post the photo again!!!!!!!!! lol later - naturalsister | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1012 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.149.10 |
Hey, I was just working on it. The building in question DOES NOT appear in the 1921 Sanborn map, as seen below. So now you know what it replaced, looks like two smaller structures.  The place next to the Kales/Kresge Bldg is labeled as Shurly Bldg, private hospital. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1015 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.102 |
Eureka!   WSU/VMC | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 581 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.255.236.166 |
Wow! Awesome. Based on the look of th vehicles, This is around 1954? Cool. What does the sign say? I still can't tell. Thanks Hornwrecker. later - naturalsister | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1016 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.102 |
The top sign looks like it says: White Rock (something underneath) - (Something beginning with a C__ ____) - Entertainment - Cocktails Below it looks like: Zenith (electronics or televisions) - Stetson House(?) - (name of restaurant?) - (blocked by the damn bus!) Maybe this will jog some gray cells of Rock or some other forumite. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1099 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
nat/sister---you sound like jjaba---always wanting to return to the west side. But anyway, West Adams did have more businesses in that first block off Woodward than the east side, and rsa's post regarding church-ownership may well be the answer why ( plus its a longer block on the West side.) Behind the "Entertainment sign" in the photograph you can make out the upper portions of the words forming "Brass Rail" which was the bar I mentioned in an earlier post, above. And "White Rock", also on the sign, referred to White Rock (brand ) of sparkling soda, like Canada Dry. The "Target sign" that hornwrecker posted brought back a memory from WWII. I remember when the sign on the top of the building was an advertisement for Camel cigarettes. It featured a sailor in his whites and cap blowing smoke rings, and smoke actually came out from his mouth and was in the shape of rings drifitng out over W Adams. Quite impressionable, quite effective. Seems to me there were a few other such signs like it that Camel paid for, but I don't recall their location. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1066 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
This might be the same Brass Rail  | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 821 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.212.209.74 |
yes psip, that's the same one. you can tell it's the same sign by the little bit of "entertainment" you can see, also by the oversized "rail" above it in dark red neon. you have to look sharply in the b&w photo, but you can see the individual large letters spelling out "B R A S S R A I L". thanx for the great stories mr. rock! keep em' coming! | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1017 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.214 |
Here is an earlier view of GCP showing most of Adams, and the BIQ without the big sign. Probably taken from the David Whitney, gives a good view of the church building with the storefronts.  WSU/VMC | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 1964 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.81.242 |
Hornwrecker, if you ever come across a 1920's or 1930's pic of the top of the Stroh's/Michigan Mutual Building, do post it. It's top was one of the fanciest building tops in all of downtown, with pinnacled corner pavilions (sorta like the ones on the Book-Cadillac, but with more spires). But that all changed when a 1940's or 1950's hatchet rehab job flattened and modernized the top (possibly by adding 2 extra floors). | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 822 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.212.209.74 |
[i gotcha back hornwrecker.] i know this one isn't the one you're thinking of gistok, but you can see the top by shadow...  | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1018 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.214 |
Thanks Rsa, here are the roofs before that building was built. The "Shurly Hospital" is still there. Of note is that you can partially see the alley jumping bridge of the Adams Theatre from the Fine Arts Bldg.  WSU | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 823 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.212.209.74 |
great pic hornwrecker! any idea when that was taken? my guess would be post 1917 (statler, adams, and tuller expansion have been completed) but pre 1922 (no stroh's hq, building in question, or cliff bell building)? wait, when was the fyfe built? | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 1965 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.90.15 |
Thanks guys, I love that aerial shot of GCP West! I never knew that the Tuller had a skywell (like the David Whitney). And get a look at that 18 story fire escape on the Kales Building. I'd hate to have to descend that puppy. (Even worse is the 36 story one on the Book Tower...Yikes!) The new top of the Michigan Mutual Building looks really awkward compared to the old one, doesn't it? | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1543 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
BTW - Can somebody remind me what is in the Stohs/Michigna Mutual Building now? | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 1966 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.90.15 |
Ya know, one of the things I really like about downtown Detroit (compared to NYC or Chicago) is the virtual absence of roof top and building side billboards. NYC is jammed full of billboards. I hope the city keeps them out. I do however like neon signs and theatre marquees. | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1575 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 70.236.175.171 |
Another shot: WSU GCP | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1109 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
Thanks for the nice old black and white photo,JSmyers. Another memory recalled, as I note the "Capper and Capper" logo in the corner lobby window of the David Whitney Building. I can't recall the exact date, but I attended their "grand opening" when they moved in there. A FINE clothier, and fancy dress shoes. A step above Bond's, Hughes/Hatcher etc. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3613 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Rock, the gratuitous knock on jjaba was quite a compliment actually. Members should stay on track. In this case, going East of Woodward a bit seems ok. The Rock's comments about not being able to rent East of Woodward shows the good taste of building owners putting the squeeze on lawyers to stay West of Woodward. Didn't we already read that high standards, and moral businesses were required? The Rock shines with his long years of Downtown Memories. Nobody knows Downtown Detroit from this period like The Rock. Hornwrecker's maps are amazing, eh. jjaba, waiting for the Grand River Feeder bus. | ||
Grosseile Member Username: Grosseile Post Number: 1 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 132.250.154.130 |
Hornwrecker: Your post on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 11:52 am showing 5 store fronts across from East Grand Circus Park -- the store two down from the Women's Exchange is Van Boven's, it was a men's clothing store that sold very good quality suits, sport coats, slacks, and shirts. The sales people and tailors provided a very high level of service. My father bought most of his clothes there or at their Ann Arbor store in the Arcade. I bought clothing at the A2 store when I was a UofM in the 60s. I don't know if either store is still in business. Can't remember what else was in that block but they were high end shops, the kind downtown needs now. Sorry this is so late. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1114 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
Memories are one thing, but old pictures are another and buster's picture/post cards of Detroit busses and wabash's pictures/post cards of trains coupled with so many historic documents compiled by hornwrecker et al really make for interesting viewing. jjaba, my lad, maybe you and I should get into this scanning business. We have covered busses and trains.I have tons of material on old airplanes, including a picture of my uncle's WWII B-26 twin-engine bomber taken at City Airport back when there was a big gas tank located in the middle of the field. Remember that tank? Ooops, sorry, "off track". Oh, yes, what was that drug store in the David Whitney building back then? Was it a Shapiro's? For some reason, I was thinking it was an independent.I know it was not a Cunninghams, Rexall or a Kinsel's. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3615 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Shaperos was the upscale version of Cunninghams. jjaba loved the Divco truck with the old buses in the pictures. Grosseile, welcome to the Forum. jjaba encourages you to show us some of the fine homes on Grosse Ile, the airport, etc. in a new thread. We are still trying to locate the Frank Lloyd Wright home there. Welcome. Thanks. jjaba, Westsider. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1115 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
I share jjaba's welcome, Grosseile. Lots of history on Grosse Ile. I see that the owner of the "pay bridge" won his case in the Court of Appeals, but it will probably be appealed by the Township. I have not been in the Arcade in several years, but I had heard that VanBoven's had folded up some time ago. I bought a fair share of clothes there, and also at their store on E Adams. They were also downtown on Congress for a while, after they left E Adams. I think Brooks Brothers came into the Penobscot Building so VB returned back to AA. Van Boven's and Boersma Travel were fixtures in the Arcade for several years. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3618 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Two Dutchmen companies in Ann Arbor Arcade. jjaba thinks there may have been a Van Boven's in Kalamazoo. Although, this could be guilt by association since W. Michigan is so Dutchified. jjaba, looking for his car under Grand Circus Park. | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 595 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.30.131.76 |
Hey, Those maps are great. Anybody able to make out what the address is on this building? I am really curious. later - naturalsister |
