Town and City Scenes--Detroit

Black and white photograph from circa 1935-1940 showing Randolph Street leading down to the Detroit River, with Windsor, Ont. in the background. The Vernor's Ginger Ale bottling plant (on Woodward Avenue) can be seen on the right.

Black and white aerial photograph from approximately 1953 of downtown Detroit, Michigan and the Detroit River, taken from the east. Some of the iconic Detroit skyline skyscrapers visible in this image include: Book Building, Book-Cadillac Hotel, David Broderick Tower, David Stott Buildings, Greater Penobscot Building, Buhl Building, and the Guardian Building.

Color postcard from circa 1907-1915 of the power house at Water Works Park in Detroit, Michigan. The park was created for both utilitarian and recreational purposes. The primary purpose of the area was a water pumping system to provide water to the city of Detroit, but the area also included tennis courts, baseball fields, swimming and picnic sites for the public. The large standpipe and the floral water-powered clock were popular attractions at the park.

Black and white print of a sketch showing the 1929 Kern's department store on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, designed by Smith, Hinchman Grylls. In 1929, Kern's demolished their old structures and built this new 10-story store.

Color postcard from circa 1909-1910 showing Detroit City Hall looking west in Detroit, Michigan. In the foreground is the Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, erected in 1872 to commemorate the Michigan soldiers' and sailors' who died in the American Civil War. The City hall was built in 1871 and demolished in 1961. The location is now known as One Kennedy Square. On the left, the red building is the Hammond Building. Built in 1890, the Hammond Building was Detroit's first skyscraper. Behind it can be seen the Ford Building, built in 1909 and designed by Daniel Burnham. When it was built, it was the tallest building in the city. In the background can be seen the tall clock tower of the old Federal Building and Post Office, built in 1897 and demolished in 1931.

Black and white photograph from 1987 of 3260 Junction Street (Anthony Dziedzic Grocer) in Detroit, Michigan. Part of the J. William Gorski Collection

Black and white photograph from 1938 of a man standing on a ferry, viewing the Detroit River and Detroit, Michigan skyline. Buildings visible include the Greater Penobscot Building, the Guardian Building, the Buhl Building, the Book-Cadillac Hotel, and the Ford Building. The image also contains several ferries, which were used to shuttle passengers across the river to Canada and to island resorts/amusement parks such as Tashmoo Park and Bob-Lo Park.

Black and white copy print of a photograph from circa 1909-1911 showing Campus Martius in Detroit, Michigan. Included in this image is the top of the Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1872) in the foreground, the Bagley Memorial Fountain (1887) on the left on Fort Street, the Hammond Building (Detroit's first skyscraper, the 10-story red-brick building on the left), the Ford Building (1909 - Daniel Burnham) in the background on the left, the Penobscot Building (1905 - Donaldson and Meier) to the right of it, the Detroit City Hall (1861) in the center of the frame, the old U.S. Post Office and Federal Building (1897) in the background behind it, and the corner of the Majestic Building (1896 - Daniel Burnham) on the right. Streetcars, pedestrians, carriages/coaches and automobiles can be seen on the streets (Woodward Avenue in the forground, Fort Street on the left and Michigan Avenue on the right).

Black and white photograph from approximately 1936 showing Woodward Avenue looking south from Winder Street in Detroit, Michigan. From 1934-1936 Woodward Avenue was widened, forcing the churches on this stretch to be moved and/or altered. The church in the foreground - the Woodward Avenue Baptist Church - had its steeple razed and facade changed to make room for the widened Woodward. The church was dedicated in 1887, and burned down in 1986. South of the Baptist Church on Woodward, St. John's Episcopal Church was moved east 60 feet to make room for the widening of Woodward; the bell tower was disassembled (as seen in this photograph) and then reassembled after the move.

Black and white photograph from 1987 of 3300 Hubbard Street (at the intersection of West Grand Boulevard) in Detroit, Michigan. Part of the J. William Gorski Collection.

Black and white postcard from 1904 of the fountain in Cass Park, in Detroit, Michigan.

Black and white copy print of an approximately 1881 photograph of Woodward Avenue, between Clifford and Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The corner store belongs to James Vernor's Drugstore; James Vernor was the creator of Vernor's Ginger Ale.

Black and white photograph from circa 1951-1960 of the Detroit, Michigan skyline from the Detroit riverfront at about Beaubien Street, looking northwest. Prominent buildings in this view include the iconic Guardian Tower (1929 - Wirt C. Rowland for Smith, Hinchman Grylls), Cadillac Tower (1927) and the Coleman A. Young Municiple Center (1951 - Harley, Ellington and Day).

Black and white aerial photograph from circa 1925-1927 of downtown Detroit, Michigan. Included in this image is the newly completed Buhl Building (1925 - Wirt C. Rowland for Smith, Hinchman Grylls), and noticably missing are the Penobscot tower and the Guardian Building, which would be added to the skyline in 1928 and 1929, respectively.

Color postcard from circa 1922-1930 showing Grand Circus Park and Woodward Avenue, looking north in Detroit, Michigan. The buildings, from left to right, are the Kales Building (1914 - Albert Kahn), the Michigan Mutual Building (1922), the Fyfe Building (1919 - Smith Hinchman Grylls), Central United Methodist Church (1865 - Smith, Hinchman Grylls), and the Hotel Wolverine. Grand Circus Park was created in 1850.

Black and white photograph from 1930 of the Detroit Bus Terminal, with the Industrial Bank Building in the background.

Black and white photograph from sometime post-1931 of the Detroit, Michigan skyline, taken from the southwest on the Detroit River.

Black and white photograph from 1915 of Woodward Avenue at Fort Street in Detroit, Michigan. Streetcars, automobiles and pedestrians share the roads, while buildings hold several advertising signs. The Bagley Memorial Fountain sits on Fort Street, just off of Woodward Avenue.

Black and white photograph from circa 1930-1935 of Campus Martius, looking southwest, in Detroit, Michigan. From left to right are the following buildings: Guardian Building (1929 - Wirt C. Rowland for Smith, Hinchman Grylls), Buhl Building (1925 - Wirt C. Rowland for Smith, Hinchman Grylls), Ford Building (1909 - Daniel Burnham), Hammond Building (1890 - shorter red building on Ford Street, considered first skyscraper in Detroit), Greater Penobscot Building (1928 - Wirt C. Rowland for Smith, Hinchman Grylls), Dime Building (1912 - Daniel Burnham), and on the far right the corner of the Majestic Building (1896 - Daniel Burnham). The old Detroit City Hall is in the center, built 1871 and demolished 1961. The Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, erected in 1872, is on the left.

Black and white copy print of a photograph from approximately 1916 showing Washington Boulevard, looking south from Grand Circus Park in Detroit, Michigan. On the left is the David Whitney Building (1915 - Daniel Burnham), and next to it the Himelhoch Building, which would house the Himelhoch Brothers and Company department store starting in 1923.

Color aerial photograph from 1988 of Tiger Stadium and I-75 Fisher Freeway on the west side of Detroit, Michigan.

Color postcard from circa 1901-1906 showing Campus Martius, looking north along Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. On the left is the old Detroit City Hall, built in 1871 (demolished in 1961). To the right of City Hall is the Majestic Building, built in 1896 by Daniel Burnham. On the right can be seen the Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (erected in 1872).

Black and white photograph from 1961 showing the Detroit, Michigan skyline and Detroit River. One Woodward Avenue (originally the Michigan Consolidated Gas Building), designed by Minoru Yamasaki, is in the process of being built in this image; it would be completed in 1963.

Black and white photograph from 1987 of 2748 23rd Street in Detroit, Michigan. From image: "south of Michigan Avenue, east of 23rd Street." Part of the J. William Gorski Collection

Color postcard from circa 1910-1911 showing Cadillac Square looking east from Detroit City Hall (now One Kennedy Square) in Detroit, Michigan. The Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, erected in 1872 to commemorate Michigan soldiers' and sailors' who died in the Civil War, can be seen in the foreground on the left. On the right is the Ponchartrain Hotel. Built in 1907, the hotel quickly became a hub for financial dealings in the automotive industry and lavish galas. With only half the rooms having baths, the Ponchartrain Hotel quickly became obsolete, though, and was torn down in 1920, with the First National Building being built in its place. In the background is the old Wayne County Courthouse (now the Wayne County Building), built in 1897.

Black and white photograph of a women peddler on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan.

Color postcard from circa 1905-1907 showing the view of Detroit, Michigan from Windsor, Ontario across the Detroit River. The ferries shuttling people between Detroit and Windsor are in the foreground. On the very far right can be seen the Wayne County Courthouse (Wayne County Building).

Color postcard from circa 1908-1909 showing the back side of the Central High School building on Cass and Warren Avenues in Detroit, Michigan. Construction began in 1894, and the first classes were held in 1896. Designed by the architecture firm Malcomson and Higginbotham, the building had over 100 classrooms and space for 2,000 students. In 1908, the rear wing, seen in this image, was added to attend to the overcrowding. By 1926, the overcrowding forced the high school to move. The building became part of Wayne State University and is now known as "Old Main."

Black and white photograph from 1981 of the intersection of Chene Street and Adele Street, in the direction of Trombly Street, in the former Poletown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. In 1981, a large portion of this predominantly Polish neighborhood was razed amid much controversy to make way for the General Motors Cadillac Assembly Plant.

Black and white stereograph showing an elevated view of Detroit, Michigan, taken from the northeast.

Color postcard from circa 1926-1929 of the Parke-Davis Co. campus in Detroit, Michigan. Until it was acquired by Warner-Lambert in 1970, Parke-Davis was America's oldest and largest pharmaceutical drug producer. The building in the foreground is now a hotel. This postcard is from the souvenir fold-out pack "Detroit's Largest Industries and Hotels."

Black and white photograph from 1987 of 3230 Junction Street - John Sledz (tailor) shop next toBozek Brother's funeral home - in Detroit, Michigan. Part of J. William Gorski Collection.

Black and white photograph from 1938 of the Detroit, Michigan skyline and Detroit River. Buildings visible include the Greater Penobscot Building, the Guardian Building, the Buhl Building, the Book-Cadillac Hotel, the Ford Building and the Wayne County Courthouse (Wayne County Building) on the far right. The image also contains ferries, which were used to shuttle passengers across the river to Canada and to island resorts/amusement parks such as Tashmoo Park and Bob-Lo Park.

Color postcard from circa 1926-1935 of Woodward Avenue from Grand Circus Park in Detroit, Michigan. On the left is the Madison Theater, one of several theaters in Detroit built by John Kunsky and architect C. Howard Crane. The 1806 seat movie theater was opened in 1917. To the immediate right is the David Broderick Tower (originally the Eaton Tower), built in 1928 by Louis Kamper for Theodore Eaton. At the time it was built, it was the second tallest building in Michigan. Across Woodward Avenue from the Broderick Tower is the David Whitney Building, built in 1915 by Daniel H. Burnham. Across the street from that is the Statler Hotel, which was designed by George B. Post (N.Y.) and opened in 1915. In the background, to the right and down the block from the David Whitney Building can be seen the Book-Cadillac Hotel, also designed by Louis Kamper, and finished in 1924. At the time it was finished, it was the tallest building in the city and the tallest hotel in the world. The tall skyscraper to the right in the background is the Book Tower, a 1926 addition to the 1917 Book Building, both of which designed by Louis Kamper. This building surpassed the Book-Cadillac Hotel and became the tallest building in the city until 1928, when the Penobscot Building was completed.

Black and white aerial photograph from approximately 1960 showing a newly completed Cobo Center and Arena on the Detroit, Michigan riverfront.

Color postcard from circa 1927-1929 of the Morgan and Wright Rubber Works factory, part of United State Rubber Company (renamed Uniroyal in 1961), in Detroit, Michigan. This postcard is from the souvenir fold-out pack "Detroit's Largest Industries and Hotels."

Black and white copy print of a (negative) aerial photograph of Detroit, Michigan, taken July 12th, 1930. Note that as this is a negative and the image is reversed.

Color postcard from circa 1926-1929 showing the Ford Motor Company Fordson Plant in the upper frame and the Lincoln Motor Company in the lower frame, in Detroit, Michigan. This postcard is from the souvenir fold-out pack "Detroit's Largest Industries and Hotels."

Black and white photograph from approximately 1958 of a National Bank of Detroit on the southwest corner of Five Mile Road and Ashton Street, one block West of Grand River in Detroit, Michigan.

Black and white reproduction of a photograph from approximately 1900 showing the southwest corner of Woodward Avenue and Fort Street in Detroit, Michigan. This image was reproduced in a 1950 calendar published for the Detroit Trust Company.

Black and white reproduction of a photograph from approximately 1900 showing Woodward Avenue, looking north from Fort Street in Detroit, Michigan. This image was reproduced in a 1950 calendar published for the Detroit Trust Company. In the foreground is the Bagley Memorial Fountain, which was a testamentary gift of Michigan's 16th governor, John J. Bagley, and was dedicated in 1887. In the background is the Majestic Building (1896 - Daniel Burnham) and the old Detroit Opera House (1869).

Black and white copy print of a water-color painting by Edward Walsh in 1804 of the Huron Mission Church, Detroit River and Detroit, Michigan.

Black and white copy print showing Campus Martius in 1888 in Detroit, Michigan. On the far side of the square is the old Detroit Opera House, built in 1869. To the left of it is the Wright, Kay Co. jewelry store. A small procession is moving through the square, possibly a funeral procession.

Black and white photograph from circa 1915-1920 of Madison Street, looking north from Randolph Street in Detroit, Michigan. On the right is the Detroit Athletic Club. Established in 1887, the DAC waned at the turn of the 20th Century, only to be revived by a group of prominent businessmen in 1912-1913. Albert Kahn was hired to build the new clubhouse, which opened in 1915 to much fanfare. On the left is the Hotel Lenox, built in 1903. It was later connected to the Hotel Madison a few doors down with a two-story building. In 2005 the historic Madison-Lenox Hotel building was demolished amid controversy to make room for a parking lot to serve nearby Comerica Park.