Koenig Coal Coal Yard silos were built in the 1920’s. The company, established in 1870, were dealers that sold coal and wood. They had two office locations in Detroit (circa 1878). The 362 Atwater Street location contained a dock and the 368 Gratoit Ave location contained a coal and wood yard (*1).

A diagonal path through gravel and grass led to an artificial ravine once used for Grand Trunk rail service through Milwaukee Junction. Areas under the bridge featured a unique  and eclectic collection of graffiti pieces, murals and tags. After exploring the surrounding area, gathering storm clouds signaled an end to the expedition.

This is the last archive of  Silentbuildings in Detroit (1996-2009).

References

(*1) atdetroit.net

B02 Archive

The 2900 building structure is comprised of a metal frame clad in red brick. Examples of this type of warehouse construction can be found in Detroit areas near factories or heavy industry. This 3 story, 60,000 square foot structure was built in 1920 and originally served as an industrial distribution warehouse. The Thorn Apple Valley Inc. meatpacking company ran an operation from this facility till 1998.

Reference

B02 Archive

Albert Kahn designed both the Kales and Park Avenue buildings in downtown Detroit’s Grand Circus Park. Kahn’s Park Avenue Building, built in 1922 was located in an area with many commercial, retail and office space centers.

Facades facing the street are  adorned with arched windows and panels of carved reliefs between panes. A rusty marquee with faded lettering perches over the  boarded up entrance. A vintage restaurant sign can still be seen under the marquee, it’s neon tubes long removed. Abandoned since the 1970’s, it hobbles into the new century.

Reference

B01 Archive

The Metropolitan Building

The Metropolitan Building is a 15 story office building in downtown Detroit. Architects Weston and Ellington designed this structure a Neo-Gothic style, and completed it in 1924-1925.  Most of the buildings tenants comprised of business offices, stores and jewelers. The site was closed in 1977 and has remained abandoned.

Exterior

The Metropolitan sits adjacent to the Wurlitzer building. Brick and granite compose most of the lower levels and the top 5 floors are coated with terra cotta that is shaped into decorative motifs. The buildings center tower on the 15th floor contains the building’s water tank, and vertigo inducing fire escapes which adorn each side of the structure. Decades of neglect have rusted the metal fixtures at the front entrance. A garish awning at the front entrance protects the buildings original sign rendered in Art Noveau lettering .

The Wurlitzer Building

Wurlitzer Building was designed by Robert Finn and built by Otto Misch Co. in 1926. This 14 story building is designed in the Renaissance Revival style. The Wurlitzer is a steel framed structure made of reinforced concrete, terra cotta face, and granite columns. Wurlitzer’s name on the south side of the building could be mistaken for a ghost sign. Closer inspection revealed that the company’s name in black letters and white background were composed of terra cotta blocks.

The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. was founded in 1856 and sold instruments before making pianos. Silent films of the early 1920’s created a demand for an organ that could produce special effects and traditional sounds during movies. After Rudolph Wurlitzer died in 1914 his sons continued the business building jukeboxes. Wurlitzer was well known for their pianos, organs and jukeboxes. In 1940 the building was modernized for more display space. It was abandoned in the late 1970’s and it’s future remains uncertain.

Reference

B01 Archive

The Kales and Park Avenue buildings are located in Detroit’s Grand Circus Park area. They were both designed by Albert Kahn. The Park Avenue Building was built in 1922 and located in an area with several commercial, retail and office centers. Building facades facing the street are adorned with carved reliefs, in serial adorning panels between arched windows. Faded lettering above an old boarded up marquee can still be seen. A vintage neon restaurant sign can still be seen on the south corner of the building, it’s neon tubes long removed. Abandoned since the 1970’s, it hobbles into the new century.

S. S. Kresge Company Building, aka the Kales Building

Grand Circus Park is definitely car oriented but still boasts wide sidewalks to handle pedestrians. The people mover runs above street level. S. S. Kresge Company Building was built in 1914 and designed using influences from the Chicago skyscraper style of architecture. The frame is steel and clad in white brick. There are few embellishments and the sparseness is noticeable compared to other buildings in the surrounding area built during the same time period. S. S. Kresge Company Building had it’s name changed to Kales building in 1930 after the company moved to another location also designed by Albert Kahn. The company would later be known as the successful commercial enterprise, K-Mart. It was abandoned in 1986.

Restoration began at the site in 2004. The Kales building has been successfully renovated into lofts and enhances the Grand Circus Park area.

Reference

Kales Building

B01 Archive

Louis Kamper was the architect of the Fine Arts Building built in 1905. Howard Crane designed the Adams Theater which opened in 1917 and the United Artists Theater. For a short time it was a vaudeville house, until Kunsky installed a Vitaphone in 1927 (*1). This brought the silent era to a close at this theater. In 1953 it was one of the earliest Detroit theaters to install Cinemascope. After trying to fight the decline in business after Hudson abandoned it’s downtown store, the theater closed in 1988. The marquee was demolished in the late 1990’s. In 2009 the Fine Arts building was demolished, leaving  only the facade buttressed by steel supports.

Update: Detroit’s lost public transportation artifacts

Most vintage grates found in the Detroit area usually date from the years; 1905, 1910, 1913, 1921, 1925. 1938, 1954 and 1956. Utility grates from the earliest years are usually from the Edison Illuminating Co. (1905-1910). From 1913-1956 a mix of grates are labeled by the Department of Public Works or Public Lighting Commission.

(*2) Detroit had several privately owned electric powered streetcar lines in the 1890`s. These electric lines replaced horse drawn trolleys. Detroit street railway consolidated operations under the privately owned Detroit United Railway (D.U.R) in 1901.

The City of Detroit assumed control over streetcar lines and formed the Department of Street Railways (D.S.R) in 1922. All streetcar and bus lines were run by the Department of Street Railways by 1932, until electric streetcars were replaced with diesel buses in 1956. From 1974 to present bus service is provided by the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT).

References

(*1) cinematreasures.org

(*2) Detroit Transit History
www.detroittransithistory.info

B01 Archive

This Art Deco style building was built in 1938. The cornerstone was removed sometime before March of 2010. Several excellent examples of art deco styling are still evident in detailing around windows and light fixtures. Other notable features are a large Salvation Army ghost sign and front entrance resembling a vintage movie theater marquee.

References

B01 Archive

The Gooderhan and Worts Distillery, founded in 1832, is the best preserved example of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America. Whiskey and alcohols used in manufacturing were the distilleries primary products from 1860 to 1990. Building No.47, also known as the Denaturing Room, contains several artifacts related to coopering and barrel construction.

This heritage property remained vacant until the site was renovated and reopened in 2003. The now vibrant Distillery District currently operates as an arts, retail and commercial facility. It serves as fine example of sustainable historic restoration.

Reference

www.thedistillerydistrict.com

www.distilleryheritage.com

A62-2 Archive

2900 Slaughter House

This 3 story, 60,000 square foot structure was built in 1920 and originally served as an industrial distribution warehouse. A now defunct tannery operated across the street. The Thorn Apple Valley Inc. meatpacking company ran an operation from this facility till 1998.

The exterior is composed of unadorned red brick typical of industrial warehouse construction during the 1920’s. Large graffiti pieces adorned the outer walls above several loading dock bays. It rained the the night before so water was dripping through the leaky roof. Pipes and boilers were The only remaining artifacts of interest.

Koenig Coal Silos (Detroit, MI)

Koenig Coal Coal Yard silos were built in the 1920’s. Koenig Coal was established in 1870 and were dealers that sold coal and wood. They had two office locations in Detroit (circa 1878). The 362 Atwater Street location contained a dock and the 368 Gratoit Ave location contained a coal and wood yard.

An artificial valley was used by trains running through the Milwaukee Junction. Train tracks have been removed and the area is a well known area for graffiti murals. There are always a few outstanding pieces to see and they get replaced regularly.

Reference

A61 Archive

The CPA building has a Flatiron design and is located in Detroit’s Corktown area. Entrances are surrounded by ornate relief’s depicting various railroad related scenes. A large clock has stopped working , It’s hands frozen permanently at 10;45.  A drive through window contained panels where window attendants or ATM machines may have been.

It turns out that the CPA is an acronym for Conductors Protective Association, a union organization. I learned the following information about the company (*1) “Mr. William Boss conceived the idea of forming an insurance company for railroad conductors, engineers and officials, insuring them against the loss of their positions on account of discharge, disability or old age, and in June, 1907, organized the Conductors Protective Assurance Company”

References

www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM56X2_CPA_Building_Detroit_M…

books.google.com/books?id=OZYUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA266&l…

(*1) The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922 by Clarence Monroe Burton, William Stocking, Gordon K. Miller. Published by The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1922. Item notes: v. 4. Original from Harvard University

A46-4 archive