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  1. #1

    Default name the buildings still standing from this old pic of detroit

    Name:  kQgOhyl.jpg
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    I see the david whitney, masonic temple, fyfe apartments, the factory that is now what inspired motor city casino, and what i believe is currently chrysler house? not sure about that one

    and obviously the old GM headquarters in new center...

    i know i'm missing a ton .. this picture is amazing though... really wish freeways didn't dominate it today


    if anyone wants a higher res: http://i.imgur.com/1cbFd5b.jpg

  2. #2

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    I'm guessing the photo is from circa 1923-1924.

    Still standing are:
    GM Building on Grand Blvd
    Fyfe
    Kales
    David Whitney
    Central United Methodist
    Masonic Temple
    Ford Bldg
    Dime Bldg
    Cadillac Tower
    First National Bldg.
    County Building
    Vinton Bldg
    Statler
    Old Police HQ [[1300 Beaubien)
    DAC
    Capitol Theater [[current Detroit Opera House)
    Book Cadillac [[under construction)

  3. #3

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    Wayne County Building, Police Headquarters [[1300 Beaubien), First National Building, Ford Building, Kales, Vinton, Opera House, and the Cheli's Chili building with Central United Methodist next door.

    Also, you can see the Book Cadillac under construction!!

  4. #4

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    Sorry Bucket, you beat me to it hahaha

  5. #5

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    Bucket, I am very impressed.

  6. #6

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    wow not a skyscraper was present. only baby building's.

  7. #7

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    Agreed with dating it to 1923-1924. Present is Cass Tech which opened in '22 [[the Cass HS recently torn down). Missing is the Fisher Building which opened in '25.

    Hmm, I can't spot the dome of the Bonstelle Theatre, but it must be there. The Theatre opened in '25, but it opened originally as Temple Beth El in 1903, by Albert Kahn. I think the dome was on the 1903 build.

    It looks like the beginnings of the Penobscot bldg are there - the 16 story tower next to City Hall dates to 1916. I think the final tower was added in 1928.

  8. #8

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    The GM building looks like the last section standing of a huge fortification.

  9. #9

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    The Carey and Breitmeyer buildings are still standing on Broadway at Gratiot.

  10. #10

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    Nearly the entire riverfront zone is gone, now home to Cobo, Hart Plaza and the RenCen complex. It's a shame because that was a good chuck of Detroit's antebellum architecture, in addition to what was also destroyed for the West Side Industrial park, the east side's Lafayette Park, the Brewster projects and freeways. Now tiny Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor feel like they have more antebellum structures [[even though Detroit still does have more, the structures are just more scattered).

  11. #11

    Default

    DIA isn't built either. It would be cool/sad to see an overlay of a current aerial photo.

    Also, would anyone off-hand know how far the horizon is?
    Last edited by dtowncitylover; January-30-14 at 01:40 PM.

  12. #12

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dtowncitylover View Post
    DIA isn't built either.
    But the Main Library is there, and must've been all shiny and new since it was finished in 1921. In fact, almost all of the buildings we're talking about here were new or nearly new at the time of this picture.

    A few other less well-known survivors I can spot here are:
    The LB King/Annis Furs Building at Farmer and Grand River
    The Lawyers Building at Cadillac Sq. and Randolph
    The Ashley [[nee Milner, nee Henry Clay) Hotel on Centre and Grand River
    The original Michigan Bell [[now AT&T) Building on Cass just north of Michigan
    The original Detroit Edison [[now DTE) Building on what was then Second just south of Grand River [[Second no longer goes through there)
    The GAR "castle" at Cass and Grand River
    The Marquette Building at Washington Blvd. [[then Wayne) and Congress
    The Farwell Building in shadow on Capitol Park
    The Gabriel Richard Building at Washington Blvd. and Michigan, partially obscured by the old post office.
    The Ferry Seed Building [[400 Monroe) at Brush and Monroe

    And there are several more buildings that I know were there at the time of this picture but just can't see clearly here.

    It is a great shot SpartanDawg!!

  13. #13

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ptero View Post
    Agreed with dating it to 1923-1924. Present is Cass Tech which opened in '22 [[the Cass HS recently torn down). Missing is the Fisher Building which opened in '25.
    Fisher opened in 1928.

  14. #14

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bucket View Post
    I'm guessing the photo is from circa 1923-1924.

    Still standing are:
    Statler
    That one is no longer standing.

  15. #15

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    Is that the church with the swayed steeple to the right?

  16. #16

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    Does the Bob-Lo boat count?

  17. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by historicdetroit.org View Post
    Fisher opened in 1928.
    Absolutely - ummmm, I somehow managed to misquote YOUR site!!! Hah! I assume you are you.

    Great site btw. I love to get lost in it snooping around. Thanks.

  18. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by mikefmich View Post
    Does the Bob-Lo boat count?
    The boats in that shot are pretty interesting. There's a Bob-Lo boat [[or is it a Belle Isle ferry?) plainly obvious docked in the middle of the shot, and 2 Windsor ferries coming and going to the left at the foot of Woodward. There's also another fascinating boat just to the right of the white ferry, with what appear to be masts [[any of you shipping fans have an idea what this is?). All the way to the right by the old Grand Trunk Brush St. tracks there appears to be a docked rail ferry. And way to the left are what looks to be 2 freighters near the shore.

  19. #19

    Default

    Looks like Fisher Body is hanging out way up their in the top right.

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