Equity Chambers on Chatham St. in downtown Windsor, hides the story of its history behind a renovation. Looking at the architectural styling of the facade, I would guess this renovation took place in the late 1920’s. When the old City hall was demolished, and while the current one was under construction, Equity Chambers served as the interim City Hall in 1955 and 1956.
The building was originally built in 1911 as a Piano factory for the Grinnell Brothers of Detroit.
Walking through the alley you get a look at the original 1911 skin of the building.
On the western elevation, the name GRINNELL can still be made out right by the lampost. Compare the font to the one in the old photo above from 1913, and you can see that it’s a match.
A detail shot of the wall.
Unexpected parts of our history are hidden in plain sight. 🙂
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Also to note in 1937, the building is listed as Equity Chambers, and there is no listing for a Grinnell Factory downtown anymore.
Do you think it was Equity Chambers that burned to the ground in 1924, as the renovation of the front facade looks completely different from the 1911 photo? How do you know if it was a renovation as opposed to the building being completely demolished and rebuilt after a fire (if it was a fire)? Any idea why they "renovated" it?
No I don't think it burned to the ground. With a building of that age, it was probably built with mill construction i.e. timbers and posts. If there had been a fire, the building probably wouldn't have partialy survived.
I think it was renovated to become an office instead of a factory. You couldn't ask for a better downtwown location, especially in the 1920s.
I was looking for the information I had on it, but couldn't find it, it is written somewhere about the conversion.
What about this? During this time period, balloon framing was common with commercial buildings as opposed to modern day platform framing, where you would construct the three storey walls of a commercial building first with double brick and post holes using scaffolding around the perimeter and then you would add the floors and timbers once the brick walls were done. If the timber guts burned to ground, you could still rebuild the guts and front, which would mean that the side and back brick walls are the only original parts of the building. Those walls needn't collapse because they were brick (instead of timber) and designed to be structural walls. Do you know if this building is a single wyth of brick or a double brick wall?
Very nice andrew... I always loved that weird alley behind this building, with the street light back there for some reason. Thanks for the info about the building itself. Any idea what the plans are for this? The steakhouse is belly-up now correct?
Someone reported on livejournal that the owners (in their 70's) divorced and parted ways (including their business), and it had nothing to do with downtown troubles. Either way, it's a loss...and it's too bad.
I have a little information on Equity Chambers.
I worked for local developer Bill Docherty during my University days ( and later fuirll time until 1984).
One summer (probably 1968) I helped with renovations on the second floor. We took out some walls, built new office spaces and re-finished the interior. I remember an old lawyer (luther Clark I think) being a tennent on part of the second floor. The plaster was re-inforced with horsehair. I remember moving an old safe accross the floor and I thought it was going to fall through the floor.
The building was owned by Docherty at that time and he sold it to Kurt Deeg the owner of ye old steakhouse in the early 80's. I believe Kurt and his wid=fe split up.