  Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 795 Registered: 11-2005 |
OK, so I was under the assumption that it was designed by Kahn. But when I cracked open my "Buildings of Detroit" to find out the year that it was built, it alludes to the YMCA being built in 1883 by Mason & Rice. Is this a different YMCA? Strangely, the one I'm looking for (the one leveled in '98 to make way for Comerica Park) is not in the book. Does anyone for sure know when it was built and which architect designed it? www.photobucket.com/albums/s16 4/rhymeswithrawk/Detroit%20pos tcards/ymca4.jpg | ||
Tkelly1986 Member Username: Tkelly1986 Post Number: 374 Registered: 01-2004 |
That was a nice building...too bad Chuck Forbes did not own it and move it to another lot. For that matter the Wolverine ect....Lots of really nice buildings fell for Comerica. Oh well, all in the name of progress I guess. | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 796 Registered: 11-2005 |
I thought Forbes DID own it, didn't he? Isn't he the guy who salvaged the Pewabic from the swimming pool to put in the Century Club's bar? Maybe he just bought the tile, I dunno. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4899 Registered: 08-2004 |
Yes Forbes did own the YMCA, the YWCA and the Wolverine Hotel. But the smaller Gem/Century (heaviest building ever moved on wheels at that time) and Elwood were the only things that could be moved. The others were just too big, too tall and too heavy. The balustrade in front of the Gem/Century entrance courtyard came from either the top of the YMCA or the YWCA, can't remember which. As for Albert Kahn... he worked for Mason & Rice for a number of years. I don't think that the YMCA that was razed dated as far back as 1883. It dates to a more recent date (probably 1905-20). | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 798 Registered: 11-2005 |
Upon further reading of "Buildings of Detroit," I'm ashamed to say, it says the YMCA was at Griswold and Grand River. The YMCA I'm looking for was on Adams, so it must have been a different one. I'm wondering if the detroityes photos, which say it was the HQ and first YMCA in the region, needs to be updated. Lowell? | ||
Rbdetsport Member Username: Rbdetsport Post Number: 314 Registered: 11-2005 |
A little tidbit about the downtown YMCA. My grandfather stayed at the YMCA when he came home from World War II. He told me the story of him coming to the city and falling in love with the beautiful streets. I believe he said he went to the Adams Theatre to see a show and he saw his first black squirrel. He is from Winona, Minnesota. He eventually settled down in Roseville with his wife and six children, but then moved to Warren. He was a baseball and football coach and a drafting teacher at Roseville High School. And asked to be inducted into the high school coaches hall of fame. He is now retired and still resides in Warren with his wife and son. Figured that was an interesting thing to talk about. | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 801 Registered: 11-2005 |
Well, while searching for info on the Hotel Ste. Claire, I found on Wikipedia that it was Donaldson and Meier that built the YMCA in question, though Wikipedia is obviously an unofficials source. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D onaldson_and_Meier (Message edited by rhymeswithrawk on July 21, 2007) | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 802 Registered: 11-2005 |
If anyone wants to know, it was built in 1909, by the way.  |
