Caution, this could be an obsession; we may have to start something like Detroit Historical Researchers Anonymous. I love doing this kind of thing, researching old buildings. If only I could get paid for it! I'd also like to file suit against all property owners who neglect vintage properties like this. Think of the fines...the income for the city... Grrrrr! Irresponsibility is really beginning to bug me lately.

But I digress. The two sources I've found FREE [[very important) on line are two Detroit directories:

Detroit Polk's City Directory 1928-29. It has display ads for businesses, a street index, and an residential and business index by last name of homeowner [[not renter). It's thousands of pages, so just spend some time and flip through it. Don't get overwhelmed. Once you understand the layout, it's loads of fun. Interestingly, they list things you don't see today, like the man's name, wife's name in parentheses and occupation! There is also an abbreviations page, which helps to decipher it. To start you off here's the Index Page link:
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text...seq=7&size=300

For the fascinating and endangered [[not too many buildings left!!!) pre-auto era Detroit, check out the H.M. Snyder 1899 Business and Professional Directory. Unfortunately, it doesn't list residences. If anyone finds a link that does, PLEASE pass it along. Link to 1899 Detroit here: http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?v...age=root;seq=1

Hope this helps...and have fun!