  Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 25 Registered: 01-2007 |
 I know virtually nothing about this photo. I am not sure that it is even Detroit. The only thing I do know is that it is not older than 1949. A larger view: http://www.geocities.com/enginebarn/detpic10a.jpg Ookpik | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 5451 Registered: 02-2004 |
Its Detroit all right. At Jefferson Ave. looking east near Downtown Detroit. | ||
Ha_asfan Member Username: Ha_asfan Post Number: 97 Registered: 06-2006 |
that big building on the right all the down appears to be the infamous Pasadena Apartments. At one time The Pasadena was Detroit's finest....the absolute finest. | ||
Rust Member Username: Rust Post Number: 145 Registered: 08-2004 |
Danny, you are close but, I believe this is east jefferson looking west from approximately the Ren Cen. The Large building just right of center on the photo I belive is the building DuMouchelle's is in. The next block is where the Millender Center is. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1895 Registered: 10-2003 |
So that would be the intersection of East Jefferson at Beaubien. And would that be the Buhl Building in the background down the street? It doesn't look like the Guardian and there were 2-3 years (mid-1920s)between the two buildings going up. | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 544 Registered: 08-2006 |
Wow! That is way more appealing then present day Jefferson in that area which now just a confluence of on / off ramps for I 375, Lodge Fwy and the Windsor Tunnel. I want that old layout back! | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3544 Registered: 08-2004 |
That can't be the Buhl/Guardian. It's too close to Jefferson. And besides the Buhl went up in 1926, the Guardian in 1929. By the look of the cars, it's the 1940's or 1950's. That tall building looks like it's near where Cobo or the Ponchartrain Hotel are located today. | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 548 Registered: 08-2006 |
Both the cars in the near back ground on either side of Jefferson were the new, innovative and wildly popular 1949 Ford. | ||
Futurecity Member Username: Futurecity Post Number: 462 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jefferson looked great in this photo. Unlike today's view, designed and implemented by Car-Heads. | ||
Michmeister Member Username: Michmeister Post Number: 80 Registered: 10-2006 |
I googled the Fenster Co. in the background-a patent attorney in Petach Tikvah, Israel. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3000 Registered: 10-2003 |
Fenster & Co Distinctive Furniture Manufacturers & Upholsterers 400 E Jefferson Phone Cherry 0646 Looking west from Brush. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3002 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hotel Norton in background:    | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 26 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thanx Mike!  Ookpik | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 235 Registered: 07-2006 |
Mikem, is the Hotel Norton building still standing? Also, what is the very tall building in the background? Since I am not from Detroit and have only visited once, my spatial sense of the city is not great. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1897 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks much, Mikem, for the pics!! They are so helpful!! I can see how far back that one block is off Jefferson!!! Nope, Cman710, the Hotel Norton is no longer. Looks like may have stood at Jefferson and Griswold where the current Roney & Company/stock exchange building now stands or just west of that. And the tall building is the Guardian Building (did we make a stop there to see the lobby?). (Message edited by Kathleen on January 31, 2007) | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4806 Registered: 11-2003 |
Good work Danny and MikeM. You were quicker than a John R St. quickie. And that's quick when you're in high school. jjaba, Westsider. | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 671 Registered: 11-2004 |
The Hotel Norton was across the street from Roney & Co. Demolished to make way for One Woodward Ave. (Message edited by eric on January 31, 2007) (Message edited by eric on January 31, 2007) | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 1098 Registered: 01-2005 |
Great work, gang. Great series of threads, Ookpik! You the man! | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1898 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, Eric, for pinpointing the Hotel Norton location. I did ponder momentarily at that spot. | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 236 Registered: 07-2006 |
Hi Kathleen, Thanks for the information, as always! We did in fact make a stop at the Guardian Building. You stayed in the car while A. and I went in briefly. It was after hours, but we were still able to see most of the lobby. Speaking of buildings, one of my Fisher Building pictures from that trip came really nice, and I am going to hang it in my office! | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 3635 Registered: 10-2003 |
The picture perked up a sociological curiosity for me. The three men in the foreground all are carrying small thick notebooks[?] tucked in their armpits. Somehow they look like something one would carry swinging in their hand. Instead it has a look of 'this is how we carry them in the trade'. Pre-brief case Detroit? Bibles on Sunday?  | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1534 Registered: 11-2003 |
May need help from someone with a little earlier memory of Detroit than I can muster, but I believe that the Hotel Norton had a fine restaurant in it called "A Little Bit of Sweden". Very popular in its time. And the photo shows Bates Luggage Shop which was a Detroit concern for many years. And is that a Kaiser or a Fraser parked in front of it with the nifty windshield hood? Also, between Bates Luggage and the Norton Hotel, you can see a BAR sign, and I am pretty sure that was the old Shield's Bar which was popular with the lawyers a generation ahead of me. I remember when it was closed in the '50's. | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 238 Registered: 07-2006 |
Hi Lowell, Great catch. I wonder about that, too. Interestingly, only the man in the middle has a suit, tie, and hat on. The other men are more casually dressed. That would lean against them being Bibles, since most men going to church at that time would have worn suits. Anyone have any ideas? | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 3 Registered: 01-2007 |
I scanned a beautiful matchbook cover of the Norton Hotel, along with the A Bit Of Sweden Smorgasbord obverse cover. However, i cant post because of an error: must be 550x550.Pleeeeease help!Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!john_doe395@hotmail.com | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4816 Registered: 11-2003 |
Bullet, welcome to The Forum. jjaba on the Westside. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 4 Registered: 01-2007 |
here we go...   thanks for the warm welcome, and all the help. i feel right at home here, and why wouldnt i? (Message edited by Bulletmagnet on February 03, 2007) (Message edited by Bulletmagnet on February 03, 2007) | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4825 Registered: 11-2003 |
Nice ads Bullet. Thanks. jjaba. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1549 Registered: 11-2003 |
Alright, a Bit of Sweden! There it is. Thanks, Bullet.I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of Kottbullar from here. |
