The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I, Part 78

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I > Part 78

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

STORES AND BUSINESS BUILDINGS.

459

will be a curiosity. The main glass in each of them is imported French plate, 5 by 7 feet in size, and cost $300. We believe these are the largest glass west of New York City, not excepting the large, fine ones in Cincinnati.

The last years have witnessed many changes

the finer commercial structures in various lo- calities are the Ferry, Palms, Moffat, Godfrey, Schmidt, Newberry & McMillan, Campau, Wil- liams, Buhl, Chandler, and Wesson buildings. There are, besides, a great number of costly

FRANK HOOKS

LUNCH.

MONE 60:

LOANED

ROTUNDA BUILDING. Southeast corner Griswold and Larned Streets. Torn down 1879.

and improvements in the construction of stores and business blocks. Nearly all the newer buildings are now provided with plate-glass fronts, and cut stone and orna- mental iron - work are freely used. The upper stories of many large blocks are fitted up for offices. On Gris- wold Street, for nearly its whole length, the buildings are thus arranged. The first building LETIN erected especially NEWS DEPOT with a view of fur- BOOKS STATION RY. nishing office ac- SCHOOL B commodations was the Rotunda, on Griswold Street. It was built in 1852. In August, 1879, it S.EARNER COT was torn down to make way for the Newberry & Mc- Millan Building. Most of the banking, insur- ance, real estate, and legal business is done on Griswold Street, making it the financial center of the city, -the Wall Street of Detroit. Among

and ornamental stores, many of them provided with elevators, operated by steam or hydraulic power. The Moffat Building was the first which had an elevator.

VIEW OF S. W. CORNER OF GRISWOLD AND LARNED STREETS IN 1870.

Rents of stores and offices are as varied as the styles and locations of the buildings, and range from $10 to $400 per month. An average store in a desirable location commands from $800 to $2,000 per year, while others bring $3,000, $4,000, and even more. The former names of the older blocks and buildings are unknown to many of our citizens, and for purposes of reference a list of the more im- portant old and new buildings, with their loca- tion and date of erection, is appended. Those marked with a star are no longer known by the name given :

460

STORES AND BUSINESS BUILDINGS.

Arcade, n. s. Larned near Shelby, 1867.

Abbott, w. s. Woodward Ave., bet. Atwater and Woodbridge, 1851.

Bank, s. w. cor. Congress and Griswold, 1868.

Burns, e. s. Griswold, bet. Larned and Congress, 1874.

Bateson, s. s. Michigan Ave., bet. Cass and First, 1 869.

Bagley, s. w. cor. Bates and Woodbridge, 1876.

Butler, e. s. Griswold, bet. Larned and Congress, 1860.

Bartholomew, s. s. Michigan Ave., bet. Fourth and Fifth, 1865.

Baldwin, w. s. Woodward Ave., bet. State and Mich- igan Ave, 1871.

Barns, w. s. Woodward Ave., cor. Grand River Ave., 1868.

Bressler, s. s. Michigan Ave., bet. Griswold and Shelby, 1860.

Coyl, e. s. Woodward Ave., facing Campus Martius, 1 860.

Colburn, n. s. Congress, near Bates, 1879.

Conant, s. s. Jefferson Ave., near Griswold, 1852.

Chandler, s. s. Jefferson Ave., bet. Griswold and Woodward Ave., 1879.

Cranage, s. e. cor. Shelby and Lafayette Ave., 1878.

Canfield, n. s. Michigan Ave., bet. Third and Fourth, 1866.

Crane, n. s. Grand River Ave., bet. Adams Ave. and Elizabeth W., 1861.

Campau, s. w. cor. Griswold and Larned, 1883.

Cleland, s. s. State, near Griswold, 1881.

Desnoyers, n. w. cor. Jefferson Ave. and Bates, 1834.

Darling, n. w. cor. Griswold and Congress, 1855. 1876.

Ferry, e. s. Woodward Ave., bet. State and Grand River Ave., 1880.

Fisher, w. s. Woodward Ave., facing Campus Mar- tius, 1860.

Godfrey, w. s. Woodward Ave., bet. State and Grand River Ave., 1860, 1871.

Hough, n. w. cor. Griswold and Congress, 1876.

Hall, n. w. cor. Michigan Avenue and Griswold, 1877.

Hopson, n. e. cor. Randolph and Gratiot, 1850.

Hodges, w. s. Woodward Ave., near Grand River Ave., 1877.

Hawley, n. w. cor. Bates and Woodbridge, 1858.

Hilsendegen, s. s. Monroe Ave., bet. Farrar and Randolph, 1878.

*Johnson, e. s. Monroe Ave., bet. Michigan Ave. and Farmer, 1852.

Lewis, e. s. Griswold, bet. Larned and Congress, 1874.

Merrill, n. e. cor. Jefferson and Woodward Aves., 1859.

Mechanics', s. w. cor. Griswold and Lafayette, 1875. Mather, e. s. Woodward Ave., bet. John R. and Williams, 1868.

Moffat, s. w. cor. Fort and Griswold, 1871.

Newberry & McMillan, e. s. Griswold, bet. Jefferson and Larned, 1879.

*Phoenix, s. s. Jefferson Ave., bet. Griswold and Woodward Ave., 1843.

Preston, s. s. Grand River Ave., cor. Griswold, 1868. Palms, s. e. cor. Jefferson Ave. and Bates, 1883.

Parker, s. w. cor. Woodward Ave. and State, 1883. *Rotunda, s. e. cor. Griswold and Larned, 1852.

Rentz, n. s. Grand River Ave., bet. Fifth and Sixth, 1870.

Reed, n. s. Grand River Ave., near Third, 1863, 1874.

Standish, s. s. Congress, near Bates, 1850, 1861.

Seitz, n. s. Griswold, near Congress, and on Con- gress, 1860, 1870.

*Smart, n. e. cor. Jefferson and Woodward Aves., 1822.

Stimson, s. w. cor. Shelby and Woodbridge, 1868.

Sheley, e. s. Woodward Ave., near Gratiot, 1854, 1871.

Scott, w. s. Woodward Ave., near Campus Martius, 1881.

*Strong, n. w. cor. Jefferson Ave. and Shelby, 1836. Schmidt, w. s. Monroe Ave., near Farmer, 1872.

Telegraph, s. e. cor. Griswold and Congress, 1872. * Union, s. s. Jefferson Ave., bet. Cass and First, 1849.

* Waterman, s. e. cor. Woodward Ave. and Larned, 1854.

* Williams (Old), s. e. cor. Jefferson Ave., and Bates, 1833.

Williams (New), cor. Michigan and Monroe Aves., 1873.

Willis (formerly Sheldon), n. s. Jefferson Ave., bet. Griswold and Shelby, 1838.

Walker, s. e. cor. Woodward Ave. and Woodbridge, 1852.

Wesson, n. w. cor. Woodward Ave. and State, 1880.

The old block which, until 1882, stood on the northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Shelby Street was originally called the White Block because it was painted white; subsequently after being occupied as the Waverly House, it was called the Waverly Block, and then Strong's Block.

CAMPAU BLOCK, S. W. CORNER OF GRISWOLD AND LARNED STREETS. Built by Daniel J. Campau, in 1883. Occupied by Preston National Bank.

Commercial National Bank,

[461]

THE NEWBERRY AND McMILLAN BUILDING.

Southeast corner of Griswold and Larned Streets. Built in 1879.

[462]

THE BUHL BLOCK, Southwest Corner of Griswold and Congress Streets. Built in 1868-1887.

[4631

THE MERRILL BLOCK. Northeast corner of Jefferson and Woodward Avenues. Built in 1854-59.

JILDING

Newcomb Endicott & to

THE FERRY BUILDING.

Newcomb, Endicott, & Co.'s Dry Goods and Carpet Stores, 190 to 200 Woodward Avenue, between State and Grand River Streets. Built by D. M. Ferry in 1879.

[465]

THE WESSON BUILDING. Taylor, Woolfenden & Co., Dry Goods Stores. Built by Wm. B. Wesson in 1880. [466]

467

HOUSE AND STORE NUMBERS.

The first provision for numbering houses was made on December 23, 1845. The Council then provided that the houses on streets each side of Woodward Avenue should be numbered east or west of that avenue. The regulation did not apply to the streets, and there is no authority for desig- nating the streets themselves "east" or "west." The first ordinance definitely providing for the num- bering of buildings was passed on February 10, 1846. On June 10, 1869, the matter was thoroughly systema- tized by an ordinance which provided for numbering the houses in accordance with sets CLELAN BUIL of numbers arranged in books by the city surveyor and deposited with the city clerk.

The regulations pro- vide one number for every twenty feet, the numbers alternating from one side of the street to the other. On all streets running nearly north and south, or at right angles to the river and parallel with Woodward Avenue, the numbers begin at the south end of the street, or the end near- est the river, and num- ber towards the city limits; and when the streets do not extend through to the river, the numbers begin at Photo Eng, Co. N. Y. their southerly end, near some one of the principal avenues, - Jefferson, Michigan, Grand River, or Gratiot. Going from the river, the odd numbers, as 1, 3, 5, and 7, are on the left hand, and the even numbers, as 2, 4, 6, and 8, on the right-hand side of the street. On all streets east of Woodward Avenue, and running nearly east and west, or at right angles with Wood- ward Avenue and parallel with the river, the num- bers begin at Woodward Avenue, or the end near- est to it, and number outwards towards the city limits, the odd numbers on the north or left-hand side going from Woodward Avenue, and the even

THE CLELAND BUILDING, STATE NEAR GRISWOLD STREET. Built by H. A. Cleland in 1881.

numbers on the south side of the street. On all streets west of Woodward Avenue, and running nearly east and west or at right angles with Wood- ward Avenue and parallel with the river, the num- bers begin at Woodward Avenue, or the end near- est it, and number outwards towards the city limits; the odd numbers being on the south or left-hand side of the street, and the even numbers on the north side of the street. The only exception to this rule is in the case of Jefferson Avenue, where the numbers be- gin at Second Street and run east, the odd numbers being on the north side of the street, and on Madison Ave- nue, where the even numbers are on the south side. There is an average of about forty numbers to a block, including those on both sides of the street.

LIGHTING AND HEATING.

In the long ago peo- ple were economical in all things; even a spark was not need- lessly wasted. If a fire was needed for any purpose, the flint and fire steel were brought together, and "behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth." The cricket on the hearth never feared the cold, for the fire was seldom out; like that on vestal altars, it was kept constantly burn- ing; if by accident it failed, perchance the old flint-lock was taken down, and the tow and wood were kindled by its use.

Matches were introduced as early as 1815. They consisted of little sticks dipped in sulphur; with which was supplied a small vial of oxide of phos- phorus. The sulphur sticks, when inserted in the phosphorus, would at once take fire. This was con- sidered a wonderful invention. In 1829 matches that would light upon being drawn through a pre- pared and folded paper were first used. A few

468

LIGHTING AND HEATING.

years later the ordinary friction matches became common. In 1780 wax lights or tapers were used sparingly, even by the rich. These lights were often made from the berries of the candleberry tree or bayberry bush, which usually grew near the sea. The berries were gathered in the autumn, and put into boiling water; a fatty substance exuded, which, on being skimmed off, melted, and refined, produced a beautiful green, transparent wax, from which can- dles were made. They would not easily bend or melt even in midsummer, and gave out an agreeable

4, 1879. On March 21, 1880, the Van Depoele light was publicly shown in front of the Detroit Opera House. In July, 1880, several Brush lights were put up on trial in the warehouse of D. M. Ferry & Co., but the light was not sys- tematically tried until introduced by Wells W. Leggett, on September 13, 1880. He obtained his power from the engine of the Detroit Free Press Company, and on the evening of the day above named, lights were put in operation at the following places: Two at the store of M.

THE MOFFAT BUILDING, S. W. CORNER FORT AND GRISWOLD STREETS. Erected by Hugh Moffat in 1871.

odor while burning. "Tallow dips" or mold can- dles, also sperm and lard oils, were more largely used. In 1850 star and stearine candles were popu- lar illuminators, and soon after, burning fluid was introduced. Early in 1850, and over a year before gas was manufactured elsewhere in Detroit, H. R. Johnson made gas for his hotel at the foot of Third Street, and continued to do so until the Gas Com- pany went into operation. In the fall of 1851 gas was first supplied by a Gas Company. In 1861 kerosene oil began to be extensively used. The Brush electric light was publicly exhibited for the first time in connection with a circus, on June

S. Smith, three at Steinfeld's clothing house, two at the Russell House Bazaar, one at Prittie's drug store, two each at the Detroit and Whitney Opera Houses, two at the Coliseum, one each at Frizelle's and Stearns' drug stores, and one at the tailor shop of Mr. Tripp. In May, 1881, a stock company was organized in Detroit to supply the power and lights, and on September 13, 1881, they were supplying thirty-two lights; on September 13, 1882, one hundred and thirty ; on January 1, 1883, two hundred and forty-five, and on January 1, 1884, three hundred and fifty. Their works were located on the west side of Third Street, between Fort and

469

LIGHTING AND HEATING.

Congress Streets. The price charged varied from sixteen dollars to eighteen dollars per month per light, according to the number of hours that a light was required.

The Edison incandescent light was first intro- duced and used in Metcalf Brothers' dry goods store on January 27, 1883. The Excelsior Electric Light Company was incorporated September 7, 1883, and on November I had four lights in operation.

The light of the United States Electric Light Company is in use in the establishment of C. R. Mabley & Co., who own the apparatus for and make their own light. It was first used on Decem- ber 24, 1883.

The lighting the streets of Detroit by public lamps was first discussed in 1827, and on March 12 a committee of the Common Council reported in favor of lighting Jefferson Avenue. Nothing fur- ther was done until May 21, 1834, when a council committee reported in favor of lighting the avenue from Cass to Randolph Street. They presented the following estimate : "Twenty lamps, including posts, at $5 ; three quarts of sperm oil per night, seventy- five cents ; total cost per year, $262.50." On Janu- ary 2, 1835, the committee was ordered to carry into operation the plan, and on the 29th James Delaney was appointed lamplighter at $10 per month. On February 19 forty lamps were ordered, and soon after an ordinance in regard to public lamps was passed ; but both lamps and ordinance " went out" in about three months, and again dark- ness reigned.

On March 14, 1849, the City of Detroit Gaslight Company was incorporated. The company was slow in its operations, and on March 8, 1851, was re-organized under the title of the Detroit Gaslight Company. The work was now successfully prose- cuted, and on September 24, 1851, the streets, for the first time, were lighted with gas. The works were on the north side of Woodbridge Street west, between Fifth and Sixth Streets. In 1867 new works were erected at the foot of Twenty-first Street, and gas was first supplied from there on Sep- tember 27 of that year. In 1871 additional works at the corner of Chene and Franklin Streets were completed. Up to 1881 nearly fifty miles of street pipe had been laid by this company. The Mutual Gaslight Company was incorporated in 1871, and re-organized in 1878 as the Mutual Gas Company. Its works are in Hamtramck, just outside of the city. They went into operation on November 26, 1872. In 1881 the company had nearly sixty miles of street pipe.

The two companies engaged in a lively competi- tion for several years, but after July, 1877, by agreement between the companies, the Detroit Gas Company supplied gas only to consumers on the

west of Woodward Avenue, and the Mutual only to persons on the east of Woodward Avenue. The increasing demand for gas is shown in the fact that in 1860 the Detroit Gaslight Company pro- duced only 26,892,000 cubic feet. In 1870 the amount produced reached 85,427,000 cubic feet, and in 1880 the combined product of the Detroit and Mutual Companies amounted to 162,775,000 cubic feet, the two companies in that year con- suming about twelve thousand tons of coal and five hundred thousand gallons of naphtha.

Street lamps lighted by the use of naphtha were introduced on July 12, 1877. The lamps were put up and supplied under contract with the Michigan Gaslight Company. In 1878 naphtha lamps ex- clusively were used. On January 1, 1884, there were in use 1,929 gas lamps and 1,743 naphtha burners.

The expense for lighting the lamps in 1883 was $72,301 ; they burn an average of seven hours.

On July 3, 1883, the council voted to light a por- tion of Woodward and Jefferson Avenues with twenty-four electric lights, to be supplied by the Brush Company. In June, 1884, a contract was made with the same company to light the entire city with electricity, and on January 1, 1887, they had in operation 122 towers and 114 pole lights, two of the towers were 175 feet high and the balance 150 feet. The expense of the public lights in 1886 was $115.78 !.

The office of gas inspector was established by ordinance of December 2, 1861, under the title of "inspector of gas meters." The inspector was appointed by the Council. A strange provision of the ordinance was that his salary of $600 a year was to be paid by the gas company whose products and apparatus he was to inspect. Under the revised ordinances of 1863, as amended September 7, 1870, the gas company was to pay $600 of his salary, and the city to supplement it with $400 more. In 1871 the lamplighters were selected by the Gaslight Company, who paid for one third of their time, the city paying for the other two thirds; yet all of their time not employed in lighting or cleaning lamps was given to the gas company. Since the ordinance of March 16, 1872, the title of the incumbent of the office has been "gas inspector," and the entire salaries of the inspector and lamplighters are paid by the city. The inspector is appointed yearly by the Council, and is charged with the duty of testing the meters and the quality of gas supplied. The lamplighters are selected by the inspector. In 1883 there were twenty-two, at a salary of $55 each per month.

The inspectors have been: 1862-1871, Alfred Marsh; 1871-1875, James T. Wright; 1875-1877, Christian Blattmeier; 1877, Julius S. Kloppenburg;

470

LIGHTING AND HEATING.

1878, Michael Quinn; 1879, George H. Moore ;

others began to keep small lots for sale. In 1850 1880-1884, John Archer ; 1884-1886, John O'Riley. . P. I. Price made a specialty of the business. Two

Originally, the inhabitants of Detroit found fuel near at hand and easily procured, except during the days of war. At the time of Pontiac's Conspiracy it was brought in boats from Belle Isle. During the War of 1812 laborers were so few, and soldiers so lawless, that the farm fences near the town were freely used for fuel, and in after years the Govern- ment paid a considerable sum for damages on this account. The earliest record as to stoves is found in a letter dated Pittsburgh, September 30, 1797, from Quartermaster - General John Wilkins, Jr.,

years later the firm of Pittman, Trowbridge, & Jones began. Since then various firms have engaged in selling coal. The amount of coal sold in Detroit in several decades is estimated to be as follows : between 1840 and 1850, an average of 1,000 tons yearly; between 1850 and 1860, an average of 10,000 tons; between 1860 and 1870, an average of 30,000 tons, and between 1870 and 1880, an average of 80,000 tons. The use of coal for fuel became increasingly popular with the year 1873, the Argand stove extensively introduced that year

INFARMER & DO .. ONE !..

J. E. PITTMAN'S COAL DOCK. On River, foot of Riopelle Street. Built in 1875.

to Matthew Ernest at Detroit. He says, "By boat which went a few days ago, I sent twenty stoves for the use of the garrison at Detroit. These will aid in making the soldiers more comfortable and save firewood." During this period, and as late as 1825, stoves were obtained from Montreal, and rented during the winter season. They hardly

came into general use until about 1830. Coal was introduced in 1836. In the fall of this year three coal stoves were procured by C. C. Trowbridge,- one for himself, one for St. Paul's Church, and one for Judge Sibley. The coal and transportation cost eighteen dollars a ton. The use of coal was only occasional and confined to a few persons, until 1848, when E, W. Hudson, B. L. Webb, and one or two

affording advantages not previously possessed. So rapid is the increased use that it is estimated that in 1886 about 150,000 tons of anthracite and 250,000 tons of bituminous coal were sold in De- troit, and not less than 200,000 cords of wood. The use of steam for heating buildings was first known in 1857. The first building fitted for the purpose was the residence of E. A. Brush, in the old Michigan Garden. The fittings were put in by J. Flower & Brothers. Soon after this, steam began to be used in the larger tanneries, and now it is used in scores of establishments and residences. On September 12, 1878, the Detroit Steam Supply Company was organized, with a capital stock of $85,000. The company supplied steam either for

LIGHTING AND HEATING.

471

power or heating purposes; it was generated in a series of ten boilers of one hundred horse-power each, located on the corner of Atwater and Griswold Streets; four miles of iron pipes, covered with wood, conveyed the steam through various streets, and from them it was supplied to customers. The com- pany began to supply steam on December 25, 1878, and ceased to do so on September 1, 1884, the profits not warranting a continuance.

Under ordinance of 1881, all steam boilers are now subject to yearly inspection, and all engineers are required to pass an examination as to fitness for their position. W. J. Wray, the first city boiler inspector, was appointed September 27, 1881, for a term of three years. During 1883 he inspected three hundred and thirty-nine boilers. His suc- cessor in 1884 was John Carroll.

THE COYL BLOCK. Northeast corner of Woodward Avenue and Campus Martius. Erected by W. K. Coyl in 1860.

CHAPTER LII.

COUNCIL HOUSES .- COURT-HOUSE OR CAPITOL .- CITY HALLS. - OPERA HOUSES AND PUBLIC HALLS.

COUNCIL HOUSES.

AT different periods of time three several build- ings have been designated by the title of "Council House."

OLD COUNCIL HOUSE, Southwest corner Jefferson Avenue and Randolph Street. Original appearance.

before I came, built, as I suppose, by Governor Hull. It was understood to be a reservation, and was in possession of the officers of the Government long before I came here. I don't know how the reservation was made, but it was understood to be a Government property under the British Government before it became the property of the United States. This was the tradition relative to these premises." B. Woodworth testified that "the Indian Department lot was treated as a reservation by the Indian Department, and was occupied by said Department for ten years prior to 1816, to my knowledge." The records of the Governor and Judges contain no reference to the erection of the building, and when the lot was surveyed by Abijah Hull, on February 9, 1807, it was marked as belonging to the United States. At one time there was in the city clerk's office an unexecuted deed from the Governor and Judges to the United States, dated February 11, 1807; and a memorandum, without date, found among

The first, a large wooden building with arched ceilings, was near the river, on the east side of the alley known in early days both as St. Antoine Street and Campau Alley. It was burned in the fire of 1805.

The second stood on the southwest cor- ner of Jefferson Avenue and Randolph Street. The following facts make it evident that the building was a relic of British oc- cupation : In 1851 the Farmers and Mechan- ics' Bank filed a bill in chancery against the city and others to recover the value of "the Indian blacksmith and carpenter's shop lot." The lot had also been occupied by Wood- worth's Hotel, and was immediately in the rear of the Council House. During the trial Governor Cass testified as follows: "I un- derstood that the British Government had some Indian Department Buildings on said prem- ises. The Council House was on these premises

COUNCIL HOUSE, AS ENLARGED.

the Governor and Judges' papers, apparently written about the time the deed was dated, says: "Lot 12,

1472]

COUNCIL HOUSES.

473

section 4, is built on as Council House." The build- ing was certainly in existence as early as May 4, 1807, for old court records show that the District Court, for the District of Huron and Detroit, met in it on that date. An official order from James May, adjutant-general of the Territory, dated Au- gust 11, 1807, makes several references to the build- ing; and a military order in possession of the His- torical Society, dated December 15, 1807, says, "His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief, having oblig- ingly given up the Indian Council House, you will have to fit it up for the militia as the Major Com- mandant may direct." The same manuscript speaks

on Fort Street. In 1827 it became the property of the city. In September of that year it was decided to open Fort Street from Woodward Avenue to the Cass Farm, and this necessitated the moving of the building. The First Protestant Society offered to give it room in the rear of their church on the north- east corner of Woodward Avenue and Larned Street, provided they could have occasional use of it. Their terms were accepted, and on September 9, 1827, the Council appointed a committee to super- intend its removal and repair ; on October 19, 1827, De Garmo Jones was paid fifty dollars for moving the building. In the spring of 1833, after the First

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I, Part 78

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902 Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co
Number of Pages: 1096