Detroit Buildings Recently Added to the National Register of Historic Sites

[renf]

On March 20, the Department of the Interior added two Detroit buildings to the National Register.

Great Lakes Manor apartment at 457 East Kirby was added. This is a 1926 building constructed by the Pelavin Brothers and it reflects this history of segregation in Detroit. When built, the neighborhood had a largely Jewish population but as the middle and upper class African American population grew, racial succession occurred and the neighborhood was home to many African American. The building was sold to Great Lakes Mutual in 1936, one of the largest and most prosperous firms owned by African American at that time. The renamed it Great Lakes Manor. Later Great Lakes Mutual merged with North Carolina Mutual, the large and prosperous North Carolina insurance firm. As Detroit lost population, the
building deteriorated and was, apparently, vacant by 1989. In 2019, the city invested in the rehabilitation of the building and reduced the number of apartments from 40 to 21. That renovation is now complete.

The other structure is the Warren Motor Car building at 1331 Holden. This vehicle firm was founded in 1909 by Homer Warren and produced cars through 1914. In 1911, they offered eight different models. This building is now a center for recycling. There is a picture of this building on the www.Detroit1701.org website.

[Maof]

Thanks for the link. Something to district me from the current situation.

[Metro25]

wish this post included pictures

[Bigb23]

wish this post included pictures

[Kathleen]

Thanks, Renf. Glad to have some info about the Warren Motor Car Company as founder Homer Warren is interred in Woodlawn Cemetery. Beautiful mausoleum in a lovely setting!

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...r-delos-warren

[renf]

Thank you very much for posting, Kathleen. It was a short lived auto firm but there were many similar firms. The Grineell brother came to Detroit and built a few cars. They had much more success in the music business. Detroit has a fascinating and complex history.