Help ID These Buildings

**gnome** · February-02-19, 05:54 PM

In this old postcard I am drawing a blank on the buildings inside the “E”. I think one is the Fyfe Shoe Building but the one to it’s left has me puzzled.

thx
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**gnome** · February-02-19, 05:56 PM

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Uploading pics is harder than I thought.

**Dexlin** · February-02-19, 06:13 PM

The building in the middle is the Michigan Mutual building before they took apart the cornice/crown. And then, of course, the building to its left is the Kales. You got the Fyfe correct.

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http://www.atdetroit.net/forum/messa...tml?1195679563

**Gistok** · February-02-19, 08:05 PM

Gnome, yes Dexlin is correct, that is the Michigan Mutual Building... before the top was bastardized with "modernization".

Back when it was built in the 1920s, it was Stroh's Brewery Co. HQ., and had an almost wedding cake top. Someone mentioned that there was a Beer Garten on the roof [[hence the corner pavilions, but I haven not been able to confirm that.

Here is are 2 images of it before it was modernized in the 1950s... Note also, to the left of it is the Fine Arts Building [[now just a facade waiting for an Ilitch miracle), to the left of that is Shurly Hospital [[torn down in the 1950s, and replaced by a parking lot)... and to the left of that is the Kales Building.

The other photograph is of the same block but an aerial image from the back [[W. Adams to the alley), after the 1917 addition of the Adams Theatre [[entry in the Fine Arts Building with the "Alley Jumper" skybridge over the alley to the Adams auditorium). The location of the future Stroh's HQ was just a jumble of 1 or 2 story buildings before they were taken out by the wreckers ball.

**gnome** · February-03-19, 01:11 AM

Thanks friends . You are correct in that the cornice threw me a curve. You guys are the best.

**NSortzi** · February-03-19, 03:42 AM

The top wasn’t just modernized for the sake of modernizing like many other buildings were. They added a couple additional floors to the top requiring the removal of the original detail.

**Gistok** · February-03-19, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by NSortzi

The top wasn’t just modernized for the sake of modernizing like many other buildings were. They added a couple additional floors to the top requiring the removal of the original detail.

Actually they went from 19 to 20 [[the corner pavilions were floor 19)... it appears that they removed the pavilion level, removed all the ornamentation at levels just below that, and added 2 floors. They didn't improve it though... by giving the top a lobotomy... the expansion was not worth the effort.

The 1950s.... the "Look at all the trouble we went thru so you won't have to look at all that old stuff anymore" era....

**p69rrh51** · February-04-19, 07:20 AM

Designed by Giaver, Dinkelberg & Ellington for Julius Stroh. Stroh Building, 28-36 West Adams built in 1920 Grand Circus Park Historic District, Detroit, MI. Includes an image of the building from the Detroit Historical Society, circa 1925 and a rendering from a 1921 Thumb Tack Club of Detroit publication.

Extensive alterations
Currently Grand Park Centre

**p69rrh51** · February-04-19, 07:24 AM

Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls.
1) Fyfe Building 10 West Adams built 1918-1919 Grand Circus Park Historic District Detroit, MI.
2) An image of the Fyfe Building from a 1919 issue of Michigan Architect and Engineer.
3) An image of the building from the Burton Historical Collection, date unknown.

Builder: W. E. Wood Company
Currently Fyfe Building Apartments.
Opened February 17, 1919

**p69rrh51** · February-04-19, 07:26 AM

Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls for Harold Palmer. Commercial Block, 22 West Adams built in 1924 Grand Circus Park Historic District, Detroit, MI. Includes an article/rendering featuring the building from a 1924 edition of the Detroit Free Press.

**p69rrh51** · February-04-19, 07:29 AM

Designed by Louis Kamper for Hugo Scherer. Fine Arts Building 44-58 West Adams built in 1906 Grand Circus Park Historic District Detroit, MI. Includes an image of the building from Wayne State University's Virtual Motor City Collection circa 1910 and an article from a 1906 edition of the Detroit Free Press.

Currently only the front façade is standing.
Color image of the building from the archives of the Library of Congress, date unknown.

**p69rrh51** · February-04-19, 07:31 AM

Designed by Rogers & MacFarlane for Dr. Ernest L. Shurly. Office building/Hospital 60 West Adams built 1893-1894 Grand Circus Park, Detroit, MI. Includes an article featuring the building from an 1893 edition of the Detroit Free Press.

Demolished: Date unknown to me
Extensive alterations and an addition.
Image from Wayne State University's Motor City Collection, circa 1930.

**p69rrh51** · February-04-19, 07:33 AM

Designed by Albert Kahn. Kresge Building, 76 West Adams Avenue built in 1914 Grand Circus Park Historic District, Detroit, MI. Includes an image of the building from the Burton Historical Collection, circa 1922.

Currently the Kales Building.

**gnome** · February-04-19, 06:22 PM

I was not aware that Stroh had an office building on GCP. Did they operate their business out of that building or was it a portfolio diversification move as a hedge against the Volsted Act?

IIRC, Michigan voted dry a few years before Prohibition went nationwide in 1920. While they still used their brewing operations for NearBeer, ice cream and fortified malt beverages; they must have been very confident in something to build such a impressive structure while the base of their brewing empire was literally going down the drain.