The Tunnels of Detroit

[stasu1213]

Does anyone remembers a tunnel that went underneath Grand River that had connected Sears to Federal's?

[gazhekwe]

Yes. I worked at Sears. I was terrified of the tunnel, but then, I am terrified of all tunnels. I have walked through that tunnel, very very fast.

[Ed Golick]

What was the purpose of a tunnel between two competing retailers?

[highjinx]

The whole Miracle On 34th Street vibe; If Federals didn't have it, Sears did.

[Meddle]

Grand River & Oakman?

[gazhekwe]

So you could shop the whole center without going out in the rain or snow, or crossing busy Grand River Avenue. There was a lot of traffic on it in the past.

[gazhekwe]

Yes, Grand River and Oakman. As I recall, it was paved all through in square yellow masonry blocks and very well lighted. It was more like a corridor than a tunnel, really.

[stasu1213]

is the tunnel still there?

[stasu1213]

I had been in the one under the Fisher Building that connect it to the former GM Headquarters

[Mackenzie68]

I remember being at the "cottage" [[was a shack and not near a beach) watching heavy National Guard vehicles [[someone here said there were no tanks used) rumble up Grand River and wondering how the tunnel fared. It was a snowy black and white picture, no pixellation, though. Never shopped there again so I don't know the answer.

Another tunnel I know of is under Lafayette. It connected the Detroit News with WWJ TV and radio. It was filled in/blocked off when the News sold off WWJ.

[rajdet]

Yep, I remember that tunnel.

[Django]

Theres a pretty cool tunnel that runs under the street parallel to the Packard plant. It runs under the street between the two main buildings and runs almost the entire length of the Packard, at least at one time it did. Parts have been filled in blocking it off. It also runs under the street connecting the two main buildings. Theres only a few entrances and their hard to find if you dont know where there at but its worth finding.

[Meddle]

Since we're moving on to other tunnels, what about the railroad tunnel under the river? I've never been in it, but I've been to the entrance although I can't remember where it is right now.

There's a whole network of tunnels between buildings downtown used to carry pipes for the steam heat system.

[davewindsor]

There's a whole network of tunnels between buildings downtown used to carry pipes for the steam heat system.

How big are these tunnels? The size of storm drains where you have to crouch down to move in, hoping your knees and palms don't squish a dead rat, or ones high enough that you can walk through them like the miles of public tunnels that connect the buildings in downtown Toronto? That'd be pretty cool if they opened them up to the public and the buildings they connected to turned their basements into minimalls like Toronto.

[Detroitnerd]

The steam structures are probably more like "vaults" -- not the sort of thing you could stroll down.

There was also a tunnel under Cass Avenue by the antique store.

[Detroitnerd]

The rail tunnel under the river is south of the intersection of Vermont and Porter. You can see it from the bridge over the tracks on Bagley. Don't go down there, though. They'll stop you. The one working portal has about three dozen trains a day running through it.

[Meddle]

How big are these tunnels?

Never been down there, but from what I understand, they're not much more than maintenance passageways for the workers to get to the pipes and conduits.

[msamslex]

I remember the tunnel very well. When my parents shopped at Sears or Federals, depending on which parking lot they used, we always went through the tunnel to get to either store. Didn't have to cross busy Grand River. I think there was a small shack that you used to enter or exit the tunnel for the Federals lot. Sears, I don't remember. There also was a snack bar in the tunnel where my mom would buy us hot dogs for the ride home. I don't remember which end of the tunnel it was on but I have fond memories of my mom treating me after a day of shopping.

What other stores were in the area? I only remember Meyers Jewelers on the corner of Oakman & Grand River and Cunnninghams Drugs across the street. There was also a men's clothing store just down from Cunninghams on Oakman but I don't recall the name.

[mkhopper]

What other stores were in the area? I only remember Meyers Jewelers on the corner of Oakman & Grand River and Cunnninghams Drugs across the street. There was also a men's clothing store just down from Cunninghams on Oakman but I don't recall the name.

Showing this thread to my mother, she says that the men's clothing store was called Robert Hall.

She also used to work at that Federals in 1961, '62 and mentions that she doesn't remember a tunnel that ran under Grand River to Sears. Her memory of a tunnel at Sears is that "it ran the length of the store, out to the parking lot, under the railroad tracks." Maybe the tunnel between the stores was blocked off then?

[stasu1213]

Are there any tunnels in the Grand River Greenfield area that ran between Montgomery Wards and Kingsway?

[SMRJim]

Are there any tunnels in the Grand River Greenfield area that ran between Montgomery Wards and Kingsway?

I don't think so. If there was, it wasn't used by customers [[as far as I know). Pretty sure I would have known about a tunnel, having been there a lot in the late 60s - early-mid 70s. There's a walkway that goes over Grand River - I think that was built in the late 70s maybe. Back then it was Wards and Federals, though I never used the walkway. I hung out over there a lot as a kid, but had stopped doing that by the time the 'bridge' went up. Not sure if that Kingsway is still there. Wards closed years ago, I think the building is now split up into multiple stores.

[Django]

Packard tunnels are large enough to stand and walk through for the most part but you might want rubber boots. It was def some kind of maintenance tunnel with large water main pipes running along the floor. One entrance is next to the collapsed skywalk in the east building. Bring a flashlight and a backup flashlight just in case. Its pretty cool exploring the different stairways up that pop into different buildings. Its like a box of chocolates.

[HazenPingree]

Packard tunnels are large enough to stand and walk through for the most part but you might want rubber boots. It was def some kind of maintenance tunnel with large water main pipes running along the floor. One entrance is next to the collapsed skywalk in the east building. Bring a flashlight and a backup flashlight just in case. Its pretty cool exploring the different stairways up that pop into different buildings. Its like a box of chocolates.

I suggest not only bringing two flashlights, but also investing in good flashlights. When I went in the Packard Tunnels five years ago or so, we had two lights, and both broke while down there. Perhaps the most terrifying experience ever.

[Meddle]

I suggest not only bringing two flashlights, but also investing in good flashlights. When I went in the Packard Tunnels five years ago or so, we had two lights, and both broke while down there. Perhaps the most terrifying experience ever.

I suggest you stay clear since you would be trespassing and subject to arrest.

[Django]

I suggest not only bringing two flashlights, but also investing in good flashlights. When I went in the Packard Tunnels five years ago or so, we had two lights, and both broke while down there. Perhaps the most terrifying experience ever.

LOL, I was on about the 6th floor of the train station at night when mine broke. I had to make my way out with a bic lighter.