Discuss Detroit » Archives - Beginning January 2007 » Help with Ferry Seed Company Building « Previous Next »
Top of pageBottom of page

Krawlspace
Member
Username: Krawlspace

Post Number: 298
Registered: 04-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 11:24 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

So I was asked about a building demolished in the late 80's or early 90's.
I was told it was the Ferry Seed Building, but the only Ferry building I am aware of still stands as a commercial building near Greektown.
This building was said to have dated to the 1800's, and was of wood construction, even down to having pegs to join the beams.
A casual search of obvious sites, and WSU VMC turned up nothing. The building was supposed to have stood near Gratiot and Broadway.
Anyone recall this building or one similar?
Thanks in advance!
Top of pageBottom of page

Kimistree
Member
Username: Kimistree

Post Number: 8
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 12:35 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I used to work at Fishbone's and that building is supposed to be the Ferry Seed Co building. I think I remember a manager showing me a crate board that had a picture of seed packs glued to it. I'm pretty sure 400 Monroe was the Ferry Seed Co.
Top of pageBottom of page

Krawlspace
Member
Username: Krawlspace

Post Number: 300
Registered: 04-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 12:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Same building I was thinking of... Anyone remember any other Ferry buildings?
Top of pageBottom of page

Aiw
Member
Username: Aiw

Post Number: 6209
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 12:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There was the Windsor branch of the Ferry Seed Co. built c. 1890 It was a multi-story red brick warehouse.

It stood in the way of Casino Progress, and was plowed under in the early 90's, it stood on Riverside Dr.

That's the only Ferry building I can recall being demolished in the last 15 or so years.
Top of pageBottom of page

Aiw
Member
Username: Aiw

Post Number: 6210
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 1:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

A quick check of the Sandborn Maps from 1922, shows 2 downtown warehoues.


Warehouse "A"


West side of Bush between Monroe & Lafayette


Warehouse "B"


South side of Monroe between Brush & Beaubien
Top of pageBottom of page

Livernoisyard
Member
Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 2867
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 1:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The Ferry-Morse Seed company was located on some (two?) ribbon farms east of Woodward. Their farms were fairly lengthy. It was the first seed company to sell their seeds in small packages for home gardeners.

The Ferrys most likely would be on the most-hated lists for many present-day Detroiters because these decadent capitalists were dominant in the GOP and lived in GP. However, they may have been generous as one of their mansions was donated or sold to the DIA, which itself was probably on or near their land holdings at one time.
Top of pageBottom of page

Rfban
Member
Username: Rfban

Post Number: 54
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 1:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Not particularly what you are asking but, still in context is a Victorian House next to my apartment on Ferry Street. It was the superintendent home of the Ferry Seed Company's. It is a pretty interesting house, inside and out. It's also for sale. I will try to get a link in case you haven't already seen it.

http://detnews.com/history/fer ry300/
Top of pageBottom of page

Bigjeff
Member
Username: Bigjeff

Post Number: 60
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 1:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

WOW, My grandmother retired from Ferry Morse seed company in Union City, Tennessee. It's amazing that they had a building up here.
Top of pageBottom of page

Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok

Post Number: 3856
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 1:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

In W. Hawkins Ferry's book THE BUILDINGS OF DETROIT (1982 Edition)... it makes it sound as though the 1887 Warehouse along Brush is still standing, but it is not.

The original Warehouse was constructed on this site in 1881, but burned to the ground in 1886. In 1887 it was reconstructed on a grander scale (see plates 110 & 170 of that book), and W. Hawkins Ferry states "In the following year (1887) D. M. Ferry & Company commissioned Gordon W. Lloyd to erect a new building (along Brush) which is still standing today.

However, that building is no longer there. But the Ferry building along Monroe is still there, but that is a different building, and not mentioned in the book. BTW... W. Hawkins Ferry was the son of D. M. Ferry Sr.

So the warehouse along Monroe must have been torn down since 1982. But when?
Top of pageBottom of page

Aiw
Member
Username: Aiw

Post Number: 6211
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 1:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

BigJeff, The Ferry Seed Co. merged with the Morse Seed Co. during the depression, forming the Ferry-Morse Company which is still in business.

http://www.ferry-morse.com/

quote:

In 1865, Mr. Gardner retired, and the business of Ferry, Church & Co. continued until Mr. Church’s retirement. Mr. Ferry then established the firm of D. M. Ferry & Co., which was incorporated in 1879. As early as 1874, Mr. R. W. Wilson began a seed-producing operation in California. Among his first seed crop was three acres of Ferry’s Prizehead Lettuce, a Ferry introduction. This was the first commercial crop grown on the Pacific coast. Because of poor health, Mr. Wilson sold his seed business in 1877 to Charles Copeland Morse and A. L. Kellogg. The company which became the C. C. Morse and Co. was incorporated in 1884, and quickly became the leading flower and vegetable seed producer on the West Coast. Although Dexter M. Ferry died in 1907 at the age of 74, the very successful seedsman of the largest garden seed business in the world, his company went on. Years of successful business dealings led to a developing relationship between the D. M. Ferry Co. and Mr. Morse, his son and their company. This association strengthened both companies, and a merger of the two firms was concluded in 1930. The Ferry-Morse Seed Company was well on its way to a future of continued good business in providing gardeners all over the U.S. with quality garden seed.

In 1959, the Ferry-Morse Co.’s home garden division moved to western Kentucky, an area strategically located at several major national railroad junctions, and halfway between Chicago and New Orleans. It was and is an excellent distribution place for garden customers all over the U.S.

Top of pageBottom of page

Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok

Post Number: 3858
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 1:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes, they moved to Paducah Kentucky. A friend's aunt was an executive with the company, and move to Paducah until she retired in the 1970's to move back to Detroit.
Top of pageBottom of page

Livernoisyard
Member
Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 2868
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 1:50 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Were they scorned as much as Comerica when they fled Detroit for "greener" pa$ture$?
Top of pageBottom of page

The_rock
Member
Username: The_rock

Post Number: 1640
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 2:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ferry Seed also had a plant in Charlevoix many moons ago. After it closed down, it became the home of Foster Boat Works, and after they went out of business after WW II, it sat dormant for quite a while.
Then the building was gutted and it became condos, and I think that's its status now.When we had our spot up there at Marina Bluff, I think it was called Foster Boat Works Inn.
But it all started out as Ferry Seed Co. It's a building that has withstood many a hard winter in the North country.
Top of pageBottom of page

Rrl
Member
Username: Rrl

Post Number: 761
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 3:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The following pic is of the old Police HQ that used to stand at the triangular parcel bounded by Bates, Farmer & Randolph; where the Water Board bldg currently stands. This picture is taken from the Bates & Farmer intersection (near as I can tell) facing NE. To the left of the building you see the Ferry & Co building, which would place this approximately where the Atheneum is today.

farmer n randolph
Top of pageBottom of page

Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok

Post Number: 3862
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 3:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

LY, they were scorned about as much as you would be if you left DetroitYes... :-)
Top of pageBottom of page

Psip
Member
Username: Psip

Post Number: 1569
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 4:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/music /wma-pop-up/B00005N6UE001002/r ef=mu_sam_wma_001_002/002-2935 590-1925635
Top of pageBottom of page

Jrvass
Member
Username: Jrvass

Post Number: 47
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 8:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If anyone comes across mention of John Bornman & Sons, Printers (Son was Charles) while looking up info on the DM Ferry Seed Co., I would be interested.

My father's family made a lot of their coins printing the Ferry Seed Catalogues. Probably a bigger account than Henry Ford (the first).

Post it here or better yet...

jrvass @ comcast <dot> net

Thanks!

James
Top of pageBottom of page

Hornwrecker
Member
Username: Hornwrecker

Post Number: 1784
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 8:32 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

From a 1930s map



Top of pageBottom of page

Psip
Member
Username: Psip

Post Number: 1570
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 12:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Ferry
Top of pageBottom of page

Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok

Post Number: 3868
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 1:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks Psip, that was the Ferry Warehouse along Brush St. (according to THE BUILDINGS OF DETROIT book. But for some reason I tend to think it was demoed earlier than the 1980's. Only reason is because I would have remembered it when going to Trappers Alley when it was chic to do so. What tragic loss. It was quite a nice work of architecture.
Top of pageBottom of page

Livernoisyard
Member
Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 2877
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 1:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

After the company fled Detroit, that building probably wasn't Detroit enough, and it had to be taken down due to its symbolic former strong GOP ties.

Eventually, expect to see the Comerica building so desecrated.
Top of pageBottom of page

Jrvass
Member
Username: Jrvass

Post Number: 49
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 6:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hornwrecker,

Is there an URL to that map?

James
Top of pageBottom of page

Hornwrecker
Member
Username: Hornwrecker

Post Number: 1785
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 11:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

No, I scanned it into my computer from an old map, only about 200 Mb.
Top of pageBottom of page

Keystone
Member
Username: Keystone

Post Number: 243
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 8:53 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

As the Ferry Seed Company expanded, they used the latest in construction techniques for their facility. (I'm sure the fire that destroyed the earliest building helped in that decision). The existing 'International Marketplace' building is actually 4 independent structures, each with a different type of construction. From west to east: Concrete encased steel with in-place clay tile floors(reinforced with Kahn-bars, by the company founded by Julius Kahn, brother to Albert); heavy timber post-and-beam; concrete encased cast iron; and concrete encased steel with reinforced concrete slabs. You can see the different buildings if you look closely at the facade. The eastern buildings kept the close (11') column spacing of the original wood structure. By the time the western building was designed the column spacing was around 15'.

Imagine trying to operate a factory/warehouse in that forest of columns.

The newest Ferry Seed building is now the Atheneum Suite Hotel, which was a very early reinforced concrete column and slab, with drop capitals spaced around 19' on center. The building was constructed in the 1920's by Walbridge Aldinger, designed by George Mason.
Top of pageBottom of page

Jrvass
Member
Username: Jrvass

Post Number: 52
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 8:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hornwrecker,

Do you see Bornman Printers on your map? It's on Fort St. 1400 block? It is now the John King Used Books site.

It'd be cool to include that in my family history project.

Thanks,

James
Top of pageBottom of page

Eastsidedame
Member
Username: Eastsidedame

Post Number: 13
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 4:29 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That old police HQ building was beautiful! I'll add that to my list of Detroit's most stupid razings. Thanks for posting that.
Top of pageBottom of page

Mikem
Member
Username: Mikem

Post Number: 3226
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 10:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

bump for Jrvass:





1924
Top of pageBottom of page

Mikeg
Member
Username: Mikeg

Post Number: 748
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here is a photo (circa 1917) showing the Ferry Seed Warehouse A and the general vicinity. The Ferry Seed Warehouse is in the approximate middle of the photo. The Hotel Ste. Claire can also be seen where Monroe curves to the east in the left center portion of the photo, which was taken from the top of the Dime Bank Building. [source]

ferry


A larger version of this image can be viewed here.

(Message edited by Mikeg on March 28, 2007)

Add Your Message Here
Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.