Old Detroit Skyline Photo

**Ray1936** · November-11-20, 03:52 PM

Beautiful old shot of Detroit from Windsor posted on the Shorpy web site today. www.shorpy.com

**Satiricalivory** · November-11-20, 04:37 PM

I really wish Windsor had preserved more of it's old riverfront buildings.

**Honky Tonk** · November-11-20, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

Beautiful old shot of Detroit from Windsor posted on the Shorpy web site today. www.shorpy.com

Is that you I see walking a beat on Shelby near Jefferson?
[[you have to enlarge the photo quite a bit)

I'll refrain from comment on the boys getting a swim lesson in Idaho.

**Lowell** · November-11-20, 05:17 PM

The number and size of the ships docked is simply amazing. Most look like passenger ships with cabins. Great Lakes touring liners? It had to be at the end of that era with improved and paved highways spelling their doom, not mention railroads. I know a lot of people vacationed to the Straits of Mackinac islands, where my family tended their summer homes on Bois Blanc, and Grand Traverse area.

The other interesting thing is that there is not a tree in sight, pointing out the population density following two decades of immense population boom.
[Click/Tap image for full sized view]

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**Ray1936** · November-11-20, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

Is that you I see walking a beat on Shelby near Jefferson?

Photo is dated at 1929 on Shorpy. Naw, I was working the Paddy Wagon by then.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · November-12-20, 01:43 AM

Link is down. Keep getting a 403 error.

**DetroitSoldier** · November-12-20, 01:46 AM

What is the 3-arch white building near the Ford Auditorium/Ren Cen site? I dont recall seeing that in other photos from this era.

**enio** · November-12-20, 06:42 AM

Another question. The Detroit-Windsor tunnel was under construction in 1929. Could the crane/barge in the middle of the river be associated with the tunnel build, or is it too far north? Also, the Ambassador bridge wasn't completed until late 1929. Does anyone know where the ferry docks were located?

**Gistok** · November-12-20, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

Link is down. Keep getting a 403 error.

I was getting the same thing... click on the left part of the link, which is clickable to a Shorpy page... then scroll down a bit, and you should see the skyline image...

**MikeM** · November-12-20, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitSoldier

What is the 3-arch white building near the Ford Auditorium/Ren Cen site? I dont recall seeing that in other photos from this era.

I believe that was the pump house for the Detroit Fire Department. It contained large electrically driven pumps to supply pressure for the fire hydrants throughout the city.

**MikeM** · November-12-20, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by enio

Another question. The Detroit-Windsor tunnel was under construction in 1929. Could the crane/barge in the middle of the river be associated with the tunnel build, or is it too far north? Also, the Ambassador bridge wasn't completed until late 1929. Does anyone know where the ferry docks were located?

Yes, most likely part of the tunnel construction, as well as the derrick on a barge at the shoreline, aft of the steamer on the right.

The ferry dock was between Woodward and Bates. They also served Belle Isle. Here's a link to another Shorpy photo of an older passenger pavilion that was there.

**old guy** · November-13-20, 12:08 AM

Excellent.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · November-13-20, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

I was getting the same thing... click on the left part of the link, which is clickable to a Shorpy page... then scroll down a bit, and you should see the skyline image...

Thanks Gistok....

**old guy** · November-13-20, 01:00 AM

These photographs are truly incredible. I can search through the details for hours. I’m amazed at the quality and detail for the time they were shot.

**mikefmich** · November-14-20, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by old guy

These photographs are truly incredible. I can search through the details for hours. I’m amazed at the quality and detail for the time they were shot.

LARGE glass plate negatives will do that for ya.

**gnome** · November-16-20, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

The number and size of the ships docked is simply amazing. Most look like passenger ships with cabins. Great Lakes touring liners? It had to be at the end of that era with improved and paved highways spelling their doom, not mention railroads. I know a lot of people vacationed to the Straits of Mackinac islands, where my family tended their summer homes on Bois Blanc, and Grand Traverse area.

The other interesting thing is that there is not a tree in sight, pointing out the population density following two decades of immense population boom.
[Click/Tap image for full sized view]

There was a massive ferry industry all over the Great Lakes prior to Eisenhower’s highway system and the Big Mac bridge.

Luxury liners cruised the Lakes from Buffalo to Chicago, Duluth to Cleveland. Niagara’s status as Honeymoon HQ is attributable to the Lake’s luxury liners. Couples would get married on-board and celebrate their end of celibacy with a view of the Falls.

My wife’s grandfather was a first-mate on the City of Detroit and City of Buffalo as well as on the most hated Aquarama.