September 29th, 2007
Highland Park’s Municipal buildings Police and Fire Department buildings were built in 1917 predating the cities incorporation the following year. A key influence in rapid increases of population was the automobile industry. Ford’s Highland Park Plant was designed by Albert Kahn and opened in 1909 to build the Model T car. The plants revolutionary design utilized reinforced concrete. This innovation allowed the structure to bear heavier loads and resist fires that plagued earlier wooden factories. (*1) According to the US census bureau the population has declined steadily after 1940’s. As car companies closed or curtailed manufacturing in favour of outsourcing, the areas surrounding these plants slid into further decline. This reduced employment opportunities in the unskilled labour trades and further eroded of the tax base
eventually resulting in a bankrupt municipality.
(*1) http://www.census.gov/
Municipal buildings
Front façade of the building was impressive with carving and scrollwork surrounding the city seal initials above the door. The first floor reception area had an ascending winding staircase, accented by a window facing south to capture the morning sun. On the second floor hallway was a mess of peeling paint, plaster and old documents. The courtroom was a clean quiet elegant place, no papers or random objects strewn about. Cast iron chairs were firmly rooted into the floor and looked like they belonged to the room for it to be in proper context. Peeling paint on the walls, missing microphone stand, a thick layer of dust and doors flung wide open give the space a sense of timeless abandonment.
Fire Department Headquarters
Similar in design to it’s neighbour, the front facade had carving above bay doors proclaiming its’ function. Carved metal lions heads designed in an Art Nouveau style formed a border along the roof. Inside was an empty shell.
Police Department
This site had a 1917 corner stone, which helped determine construction dates of the other municipal buildings. The basement has a jail in it and numerous files, reports, catalogued evidence, photos, vintage parking meters and other miscellaneous police related items.
A44-13, A46-4 archive
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September 28th, 2007
The C. F Harris Co building is a storage building is located on Detroit’s south west side. Little information was available on this sites history and function. A vintage ghost sign on the west side hinted that the site may have had something to do with the auto industry. Next to the C. F Harris building was a large factory like building with a bridge spanning between the 2 blocks. A brick and stone bridge (circa 1913) had railway tracks running across them on the east side.
There is no corner stone but the style of the building places its’ construction sometime in the early 1920’s. Fire trails above the windows indicate that an intense fire transpired some time during or after it was abandoned. Carved reliefs of winged horses above the front entrance caught my attention.
A46-4 archive
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September 27th, 2007
The CPA building is a Flatiron building in the Corktown area at the corner of Michigan and 14th Street. Surrounded by reliefs depicting various railroad related scenes was a dead clock. It’s hands frozen in time and left open to the elements unprotected by glass. A drive through window and panels where ATM machines may have been, Ied me to believe that the site was related to banking.
It turns out that the CPA is an acronym for Conductors Protective Association. In short 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”
(*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
References
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM56X2_CPA_Building_Detroit_Michigan
http://books.google.com/books?id=OZYUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA266&lr=&as_brr=1
(*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
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September 27th, 2007
Grand Trunk Cold Storage is located in the heart of the Milwaukee Junction area in close proximity to the railway. Ghost signs on the south and north side of the building say Division of Beatrice Foods Co. North east loading dock areas were demolished before I got a chance to explore them. The interior is similar to being in the midst of a dark wind tunnel. Long exposure times sans tripod meant that no photos of the inside turned out well. The first floor is mainly concrete columns’ and empty space. The view from the roof of the building and water tower were the most memorable… after the smell. This building was unpleasant to explore for this reason.
Distant traffic on the I-75 and banging of the large incinerator nearby are the only other audible sounds while inside. The east side has ample evidence of a major fire. Large birds, maybe pheasant were startled by my approach. Desolation of the surrounding lands going east is unusual considering the amount of manufacturing activity that once saturated this area.
While passing on the way to another expedition at Packard, the Grand Trunk Storage building looked dramatic against the clouds hovering above. Capturing the exterior as a panoramic landscape took precedence over exploring.
A46-1 archive
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September 16th, 2007
Grand Circus Park was a crowded district in the 1920’s as a result of the automotive boom. Albert Kahn designed The Park Avenue Building in 1922. A previous building Kahn designed, the Kales Building is across the street. After the Park Avenue Association formed in1923, Park Avenue and Grand Circus Park became a commercial, retail and office space centre. The entire district saw a sharp decline during from 1970 to the 1990’s. Investment in the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park and the new Tiger Stadium has led to a revival of the Park Avenue area.
Since 2006, the Kales and Iodent Buildings have been redeveloped into lofts and 2 new entertainment venues Cliff Bells and the Park Bar have opened.
A46-2-AA2 archive
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September 14th, 2007
Loyal Order of Moose is a fraternal and service organization founded in 1888. This building located at the corner of Cass and Elizabeth, has been abandoned for decades. The Chin Tiki restaurant (demolished in 2009) sits adjacent to the Loyal Order of Moose building on the north side. In the second picture looking west, Cass Technical School can be seen in the distance.
A46-2-AA2, A46-4 archives
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