Awww c’mon… Another postcard post!
Sorry, for the lack of variety in the posts lately, I’ve found myself with less and less free time of late, so the post that require less work are the ones coming out lately… Soon enough though, spring is in the air, and the camera will soon be out on the prowl, and lots of new subject matter will come along with the spring (at least I hope so)…
Enough of that, on to the postcard! 😉
So yes, another postcard, but this is one I had never seen before… A view taken from the south west corner of Pitt & Ouellette looking north. In the top right is the former British-American Hotel, who’s foundation is still visible today, also on the east side of Ouellette, but on the south side of Riverside Drive is the Victor Daniel Horsburgh designed Bank of Commerce that was demolished in the 1970’s for the CIBC tower.
The Ferry is at the dock, waiting for the next run to Detroit and note the streetcar loading zone lines painted on the road.
Had to believe this is the same block, 90 years later…
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Duncan...or you learn from the mall
I agree with Duncan about the air quality, and lack of retail. It would be nice if we could turn back the clock to the sixties or seventies when the competition for buisness was Dorwin, and Gateway Plaza (WoolCo), and Hudsons. Before Devonshire Mall lured the main street to Howard and Grand Maris. but sadly this will never happen unless you level the downtown and start again.Now the push should be to keep the buisnesses that are not retail downtown.
I like the idea 'ME' had regarding a retail incubator. I believe that The Shops in the Kresge in downtown Detroit, http://www.shopkresge.com, has potential.
I was born in 1920 it looked like this when i was 11 yrs old. Friendly people and alot of Detroiters would come and have a drink. The ferry was a joy. I am still around and i don't like the change. People never use to lock there doors at night..some did some didnt but most didnt. Crime wasn't bad. I would ride the street cars with my grandmother, and shop downtown every week, and go to the market. My grandparents cousins owned smiths. It was a great place to shop. Very much like walmart today, you could find anything you ever wanted there. Kresges was a place to eat, Barlets was good to. The American British Hotel was a very sharp place to be...how times have changed! I don't know how long i will be around but im glad i got to see how it looks today...My dear friend is typing this for me cause i cannot use my fingers anymore..but all i can tell you is the water front is really nice to look at when you walk by, without all them hotels there blocked most of the view back in the day.
Ps...It looked like this until i was 18 but what i meant to say is before they closed it when the tunnel and bridge opened...that's when the ferries closed, but boblo boats still came only..until the late 70's i believe.
Thanks for the memories Gretrude! and thanks for helping her type dear freind!
Andrew, I'm personally loving all these postcards so keep'em coming! I never knew what those line on the road were in pictures...now I do.
I'll agree like everyone else about the pollution back then, but there have been absolutly no positive gains as far as I can tell. we've only managed to level and pave over our citys identity. I cannot for the life of me find a single attractive structure downtown of any modern arcitecture...we tore down that beautiful bank for the POS CIBC tower? the norwich for another ugly peice of garbage....empty garbage that is.
And ME - awenings.....i love the idea. it feels more stiched together with awenings.
It's also very sad that the only thing left in this entire picture is Wolley Bulley's (which i thought got bought out by that "for lease" francise that's been seting up shop all over town) I think it's original to the block anyways.
ah well, Thanks Andrew!
All these postcards are great Andrew - keep 'em coming... Great memories Gertrude. I too remember the British American Hotel and that block of shops down to the river north of Riverside Drive. Thanks for posting your memories.
If I recall, the AGW has a piece of the metal eagle sculpture off the facade of the British American Hotel - it used to be on display in the old version of the gallery (early 1990's) where the new one stands today.
Nice find Andrew. Nothing wrong with the postcards!
Love this postcard.
Aaron, I believe the old Wolley Bulley's building was built around 1977, after Smith's was torn down. It originally was built to house an A & W Restaurant. Could the tobacco sign actually be part of Smith's. It would probably have had a tobacco department.
The building in the left hand bottom corner -was that the Camin or Kamin building? Does anyone know. I'm not able to read what the sign says at the top of the building - maybe law office? I think there was a men's clothing store there in the 1970s.
The corner building referred to by Paula is the Laing building which later became the Kamin building.