Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 607 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 2:57 pm: | |
When the “sneak thieves”, also known as the “city fathers”, tore down the beautiful “old” Detroit City Hall in 1961 the statues on the building were dismantled and removed. Does anyone know if those statues still exist and if so where are they? Demolition of City Hall Livedog2 |
Royce Member Username: Royce
Post Number: 1683 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.209.151.93
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 3:02 pm: | |
I heard that they were moved to Wayne State's campus. |
Psip
Member Username: Psip
Post Number: 1104 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 68.60.45.70
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 3:03 pm: | |
Fort Wayne |
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd
Post Number: 627 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 209.69.221.253
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 3:05 pm: | |
They have been exposed to the elements for more than 40 years, so they're pretty rough-looking. All that was left when I saw them was sections of the statues, a head, a torso, etc. Thanks, Detroit Historrible Society. |
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 609 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 3:30 pm: | |
So Detroitnerd and/or Psip are they still available at, is it Fort Wayne, for viewing? Does anyone have any current photos of these statues? Livedog2 |
Designut Member Username: Designut
Post Number: 34 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 65.123.68.93
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 3:39 pm: | |
As a side note, the old city hall would have celebrated its 135(th) birthday two days ago - on the fourth of july. Too bad it only lived to be 90...
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Goat Member Username: Goat
Post Number: 8602 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.54.70.136
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 3:48 pm: | |
Fort Wayne and in deplorable shape. Livedog2, check the archives as there was a column in the MetroTimes that shed some light (with photos of the statues). DetroitYes has had a few threads about it. |
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd
Post Number: 628 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 209.69.221.253
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 5:04 pm: | |
http://www.metrotimes.com/edit orial/story.asp?id=6495 |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 1404 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 5:19 pm: | |
From a Detroit News Rearview Mirror story (http://info.detnews.com/histor y/story/index.cfm?id=67&catego ry=government): "Niches provided for statues on the east and west sides of the City Hall were left unoccupied until 1884. In that year sculptures of Antoine Cadillac, Fr. Gabriel Richard, Fr. Jacques Marquette and Sieur de LaSalle were added. Commissioned by a leading citizen, Bela Hubbard, they were carved by the foremost Detroit sculptor of the period, Julius Theodore Melchers. A native of Prussia, Melchers came to Detroit in 1885 after working on the Crystal Palace in London." Since at least 2000, these 4 statues were installed on the Wayne State University campus just outside St. Andrew's Hall facing Third Street. Check out some of these earlier Forum threads covering this same topic: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/62684/62344.html https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/36206/40269.html |
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd
Post Number: 629 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 209.69.221.253
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 5:20 pm: | |
Kathleen, The statues on Wayne State are of people. The statues at Fort Wayne are of civic virtues like Industry and Commerce. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 1405 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 5:23 pm: | |
Yes...and the question was asked by Livedog2 in his initial post on this thread...."Does anyone know if those statues still exist and if so where are they?" So some of the statues do exist, and they are on the WSU campus. Yes, there were lots of other ornamental statuary on the building and those are at Fort Wayne, according to the articles. |
Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 4502 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 198.111.165.50
| Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 5:50 pm: | |
Old Detroit city Hall, Being transformed into to Kenndy SQ. Park and Underground Parking Garage and later to Underground Parkign Garage with a New Ernst and Young building. |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1325 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 8:32 am: | |
The two canons that used to "protect" old City Hall are now on the front lawn of the Dossin Museum. |
Billybbrew
Member Username: Billybbrew
Post Number: 189 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 205.188.116.137
| Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 9:54 am: | |
Old City Hall painted by Detroit Artist William Moss. |
Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 4507 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.174.229
| Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 9:59 am: | |
Now its this:
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Bussey Member Username: Bussey
Post Number: 186 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 206.208.94.60
| Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 10:04 am: | |
danny , you rule. |
Leob Member Username: Leob
Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 69.14.9.224
| Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 7:37 pm: | |
The building to the right of City Hall in the Moss painting is still there on Griswold/Lafayette. The bank name escapes me .. Leo B |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1327 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 7:45 pm: | |
C"mon Mr. Moss. Produce a print of that old City Hall picture. That painting typlifies Detroit as most people will remember it. To me, it says it all. |
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 595 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28
| Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 8:19 pm: | |
If what's left of my memory is correct, the original deed that gave the Old City Hall property to the city required that the land be used for a City Hall or it would be returned to the grantors. Any one know how the city got around that one? |
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 619 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 8:46 pm: | |
Good point, Douglasm! I hope someone has an answer to that legal question. But, then it occurred to me that that is the definition of a politician -- someone that can figure out how to circumvent anything. Livedog2 |
Rrl Member Username: Rrl
Post Number: 565 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 71.213.228.30
| Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 8:48 pm: | |
Ask the Rackham family about their golf-course... |
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 620 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 8:50 pm: | |
Another good point, Rrl. Livedog2 |
Billybbrew
Member Username: Billybbrew
Post Number: 190 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Saturday, July 08, 2006 - 12:07 am: | |
The_Rock, That is a photo of a print, not the original, Bill has the original in Tennessee. It's very big, like 3x4 out of the frame. He said he spent more time on that painting than any other, painting in each individual block that was on the building where it belonged as well as the cars. The prints can still be purchased as it is not a sold out edition. (Message edited by billybbrew on July 08, 2006) |
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie
Post Number: 507 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 35.12.23.71
| Posted on Saturday, July 08, 2006 - 12:56 am: | |
Detroitnerd wrote, "All that was left when I saw them was sections of the statues, a head, a torso, etc. Thanks, Detroit Historrible Society." Uh, I think virtually all the damage happened before the Detroit Historical Society had any legal control of Historical Museum stuff-- when the city was managing everything. |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1331 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 9:14 pm: | |
3 x 4 print!! Awesome. But where can I find room for it? |
Billybbrew
Member Username: Billybbrew
Post Number: 191 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 205.188.116.137
| Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 11:49 pm: | |
Lol@Rock. The original painting is 3' x 4'...the print is 24" x 30" so slightly smaller......and you'll just have to move that original painting of the Greater Buffalo, that you know you want, to make room for it :-) |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1333 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 8:29 am: | |
See you Wednesday and we will discuss it!! |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 2669 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105
| Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 11:26 pm: | |
From: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/messages/62684/62344.html |
Billybbrew
Member Username: Billybbrew
Post Number: 192 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 12:04 am: | |
nice pic MikeM. did you see that the Ryerson is due to sail Saturday or Sunday. Drop me an email if you get a chance. |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 2673 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105
| Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 12:13 am: | |
Good news! Too bad I have to work this weekend. I'll keep an eye out for it here: http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/cwdata/lmd/web/sta3.html email on the way... |
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis
Post Number: 65 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.227.102.82
| Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 12:37 am: | |
The rest of the building was dumped in Lake St Clair off of 12 mile according to a newspaper article my grandmother cut out and saved. I thought about that when divers said they found a sunken church out there. |
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 673 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 2:13 am: | |
Mikem, your posts are the best! And, the gang is always scanning the horizon for your next post!! Thanks. Livedog2 |
Wkl Member Username: Wkl
Post Number: 77 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 204.212.159.1
| Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 9:16 am: | |
The church that was found out in the lake was the original St Gertrude's Church. The current church is on Jeffeson between 11 and 12 mile roads. They found the old parish cemetary out there too. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 2438 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.90.184
| Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 5:02 pm: | |
Well when you consider that Lake St. Clair is no deeper than about 20 feet deep (except for the dredged shipping lanes), that didn't seem like a very smart thing to do. Sure sounds like a navigational hazzard. Of course if it was just loose rubble, then it wouldn't be quite that bad. |