Illuminated Guardian Building

[mikeg19]

Just a curious question brought up by the rendering of the Wurlitzer that hit Curbed the other day. Looking at old photos/postcards of the Guardian Building, the top was illuminated with beacons. I'm assuming this was for navigational purposes a long time ago, like the Penobscot's red orb.

So when did the Guardian eliminate those beacons? Anyone know when those were turned off? I think it'd be pretty cool to see something up there again.

[Eric_c]

If I had to make some guesses, I'd say October of 1929 or December of 1941, but those are purely guesses.

[jackie5275]

Here's a photo of it lit up in 1937.

http://www.historicdetroit.org/galle...ng-old-photos/

[jackie5275]

Go to the bottom of the article in the Guardian Facts section, you can see the text below that talks about the lights apparently turned off for WW2. Eric's guess was pretty correct.


Never restored: "Sky Fountain" on roof, made up of oscillating search-
lights [[till World War II)

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...NT01/905060301

[jackie5275]

Just a curious question brought up by the rendering of the Wurlitzer that hit Curbed the other day. Looking at old photos/postcards of the Guardian Building, the top was illuminated with beacons. I'm assuming this was for navigational purposes a long time ago, like the Penobscot's red orb.

So when did the Guardian eliminate those beacons? Anyone know when those were turned off? I think it'd be pretty cool to see something up there again.

Since it was called a Sky Fountain, I think their purpose was ornamental rather than navigational. It would be cool to see them again if it was as it looked in the photos. They've been turned off for 70+ years, since WW2. Who knows if they're still even at the top of the bldg. However, since Wayne County owns the building, they don't have the money to run these.

[Jimaz]

Here's a photo of it lit up in 1937.

http://www.historicdetroit.org/galle...ng-old-photos/

Thanks for that link. I was about to correct it to be more specific but thought that folks would want to see those other photos anyway.

That's really a spectacular building.