Discuss Detroit » Archives - July 2008 » Let's Play: What Was This Building? « Previous Next »
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Eastsidedame
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Username: Eastsidedame

Post Number: 370
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 1:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

In glancing at Google Maps, or Live Maps, I often come across a building and wonder...WHAT WAS THAT?

Some I can find through a few resources, like www.buildingsofdetroit.com, or Lowell's site, but they don't have a lot of the more obscure structures. Any other resources you can think of would be helpful, too.

For example:

FLEET SPECIALTY WAREHOUSE CO 2600 W FORT ST DETROIT,MI 48216

Sure don't look like a warehouse to me...at least not originally. There is some name carved into a stone block between the 2nd and 3rd floors, but I can't read it.

Any ideas?
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Rhymeswithrawk
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Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 1255
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 2:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I love that place. Jobbers only, I believe, was a way of saying contractors, no? I thought it was some kind of storefront. I could be way off, though.
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Mbr
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Username: Mbr

Post Number: 404
Registered: 03-2005
Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 2:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Link to google street view picture:

0%2C-15.992978364578832,http:/ /maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q= 2600+W+FORT+ST+DETROIT,MI+4821 6+&ie=UTF8&ll=42.319734,-83.07 4416&spn=0.000942,0.00235&t=h& z=19&layer=c&cbll=42.319263,-8 3.074509&panoid=eXg3yQI-hkJ8mo Gx2Tm6VA&cbp=1,294.68195458915 4,,0,-15.992978364578832
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Sean_of_detroit
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Username: Sean_of_detroit

Post Number: 928
Registered: 03-2008
Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 2:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

EastSideDame,

This isn't exactly what you are looking for, but check this link out (below). It identifies almost all of the buildings on the West side of the central business district. If you find anything on that side that isn't labeled, or is labeled wrong, let me know. If the link for whatever reason doesn't work, go to the map/arial of Downtown Detroit and do a search in "collections" on Live Maps. Search for Downtown Building Guide. It should come up in the list. It is the one with 158 items (as of June 26th).

Link: http://maps.live.com/default.a spx?v=2&cp=r1rp6v82b719&style= o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-10 00&scene=5646166&encType=1#JnE 9Y2wuRG93bnRvd24rQnVpbGRpbmcrR 3VpZGUlN2Vzc3QuMCU3ZXBnLjEmYmI 9NDIuMzMyODUxMjQzOTE4NSU3ZS04M y4wNDY0NDg3MTEwNDI0JTdlNDIuMzM xMjAwMzcxMTI3OCU3ZS04My4wNDg5M Dc3MDczOTMz
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Gazhekwe
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Username: Gazhekwe

Post Number: 2286
Registered: 08-2007
Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 2:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I seem to remember something about car parts for Fleet Specialty in the 70s-80s. I went there once or twice because of a cousin who works on antique cars, but the details are very sketchy. What it was before that, I don't know.
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Eastsidedame
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Username: Eastsidedame

Post Number: 380
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 1:31 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It just looks like a very old building to me, pre-Auto Industry age, I thought.
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Aiw
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Username: Aiw

Post Number: 6663
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 2:05 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I covered the history of it on my website a few years ago...

http://www.internationalmetrop olis.com/?p=124
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Reddog289
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Username: Reddog289

Post Number: 438
Registered: 08-2007
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2008 - 4:43 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

As my "daughter" spent 1/2 of last year and what should have been her sophmore year in high school at Vista Maria. I now know where they came from, like i said this has been a great site to me.I am a little smarter by being here.
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Rhymeswithrawk
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Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 1288
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2008 - 5:02 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

WOW! Aiw! I had no clue! That's amazing! Where'd you get the diagram of the complex?
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Sean_of_detroit
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Username: Sean_of_detroit

Post Number: 1039
Registered: 03-2008
Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 - 3:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I got one.

What was the Golden Building adjacent to the Guardian on Woodward?
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Raptor56
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Username: Raptor56

Post Number: 387
Registered: 05-2007
Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 - 3:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sean: Does this building still exist? not finding/remembering a golden building adjacent to the Guardian.
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Sean_of_detroit
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Username: Sean_of_detroit

Post Number: 1040
Registered: 03-2008
Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 - 4:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Okay, for some reason I thought it was gold. I'm really not sure. I think it is still there? I haven't really been that observant.

It is directly across the street from Comerica Tower on Woodward. It shares a block with The Guardian. It's small and skinny. I remember when I could keep up with all the changes around here. It's getting pretty hard now (that's a good thing).
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Eastsidedame
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Username: Eastsidedame

Post Number: 438
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2008 - 1:32 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thank you, Aiw! I'm getting to appreciate pre-Auto industry Detroit more and more. Getting better at spotting the architecture, too.

To me, structures like this are a reminder that we were a productive and progressive city that made everything, before we made cars.

It gets you thinking: could it happen here again?

Anyway, here's another house that I've been unable to get a history of: all by itself on the corner of Mack & Cadillac. Like the Lee Burt House on Jefferson, it's seems to be screaming to be moved to an appropriate age-specific neighborhood.



Fair Use Act: For educational, not-for-profit use only - Google Maps


(Message edited by eastsidedame on July 26, 2008)
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Richie
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Username: Richie

Post Number: 58
Registered: 08-2007
Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 7:32 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sean_of_detroit I am blown away at what used to be there but when did all the other buildings vanish? It would appear they were abandoned or sold after 1942. I too have seen this building for years and been curious about it. You can no longer get a decent picture of it or the old Greyhound station as there is now a huge barrier in the middle of the street for truck traffic going to Canada.

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