Another SHORPY look at the Dime Bank building, 1911.

[cramerro]

To the right would be the Farwell Building, I believe. The Dime was earlier than most the other skyscrapers in the immediate vicinity, must have been quite a sight to see the bright white brick rising up like that from so many of the red/darker brick short buildings. Also love the train track with ties in the middle of Fort St.

[Krawlspace]

The building to the right was the McGraw building. The Farwell is much farther up Griswold in Capitol Park. The McGraw was home to the Michigan Savings Bank, and at some point also held offices for the Free Press, although in the photo linked below, the Freep was still only in the adjoining building on Lafayette. The building on the far right that advertises women's shoes is where the Griswold parking deck is now. The building pictured was only recently torn down, and had a Taco Bell for a while. I recall reading something about Houdini being treated by a doctor there on the upper floors in an office before going to Harper Hospital after the ill fated punch to the abdomen. The building under construction to the far right I believe is the Peter Smith & Sons building which still stands. Construction is dated 1912 so it would put it in the right time frame. The Victorian stone building on the far left was the Post Office and Federal Building.

Shorpy's pic of the McGraw:

http://www.shorpy.com/node/10218?size=_original

And of the Post Office:

http://www.shorpy.com/node/7519?size=_original