the stories behind our reclaimed items
the wood used in many of our projects have already survived a lifetime as the bones of a building.
We engrave each of our reclaimed items with the address of origin and We find out what we can about the structures.
we are excited to present our findings below because the stories are almost as cool as the old wood.
1927 MICHIGAN AVENUE
DETROIT, MI
1907
Located in one of Detroit's oldest neighborhoods, the three-story industrial building found at 1927 Michigan avenue was originally built in 1907 and was home to the Detroit Alaska-Knitting Mills.
The surrounding Corktown neighborhood is made up of a variety of both residential and commercial buildings which had attracted working class immigrant population in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with its pull of affordable housing and walkable community.
The name Corktown, is derived from the large population of Irish immigrants who had settled in this part of the city, the majority of them being from Cork County, Ireland. Though the neighborhood is much more diverse today, strong ties to its Irish heritage are still present.
While the building at 1927 Michigan Ave. is located just outside the official boundaries of the Historic District, this former garment factory impacted the surrounding community by providing several jobs for the residents of Corktown.
As baseball began to gain popularity during the early 19th century, the historic Navin Field (later known as Tiger Stadium), was being built just three blocks east of the building at 1927 Michigan Ave.
The ball park that the Detroit Tigers would call home for 87 years was designed by the same architectural firm that worked on Fenway Park in Boston and Yankee Stadium in New York. It officially opened to the public in the spring of 1912, just five years after the Detroit-Alaska Knitting Mills building was completed.
Once Major League Baseball left the corner of Michigan and Trumbull in 1999, much of the surrounding Corktown neighborhood began to feel the negative impacts from the loss of baseball revenue.
After 111 years, the building at 1927 Michigan Avenue has been given new life through an adaptive reuse plan from Buhl Motor Sports, Brother's Tuning Detroit and, The Ford Motor Company.
The Detroit-Alaska Knitting Mills building and the adjoining factory building at 1907 Michigan Ave are now collectively known as "The Factory at Corktown." Serving as mixed used development, these two buildings are now the hub for autonomous vehicle development at Ford Motor Company.
SOURCES
National Park Service, Corktown Historic District, National Register Nomination
City of Detroit, Building and Safety Department, Building Permits
Burton Historical Collection, City Directories 1920-1974
241 Chene
DETROIT, MI
1882
Located in Detroit’s East River Front District on the corner of Chene and Wight, this two-story manufacturing building was home to the Lauhoff Corporation which was once Detroit’s longest operating business.
Construction on the Lauhoff Corporation Building was underway on lots 9 through 12 of the former Joseph Campau Ribbon Farm. It originally was a one-story building owned by the Lauhoff brothers; William, Frank, and Joesph, who had a background in the family flouring mill which was also located in Detroit in the 1870s.
1892
Construction on the Lauhoff Corporation Building was underway on lots 9 through 12 of the former Joseph Campau Ribbon Farm. It originally was a one-story building owned by the Lauhoff brothers; William, Frank, and Joesph, who had a background in the family flouring mill which was also located in Detroit in the 1870s.
Early 1900'S
Frank Lauhoff took over the family business and shifted operations into a new direction. He began developing machinery eventually used in the food processing industry. These machines revolutionized the instant food production process by flaking vegetables such as beans, peas, and most notably, corn.
The Lauhoff Corporation eventually went on to manufacture corn flaking machinery for companies such as W.K. Kellogg and C.W. Post out of Battle Creek, Mich., which utilized them in the production of their breakfast cereal empires.
1982
Lauhoff Machinery was widely in use by companies such as General Mills, Kellogg, Oneida, General Foods, Ralston, and Purina.
2015
After over 133 years in operation, the family sold the building located 1in Detroit’s East Riverfront district to a LLC bearing the name of its address 241 Chene. It is unclear whether there are any plans for the building’s reuse.
SOURCES
Detroit East Riverfront Survey, Downtown Detroit and the East Riverfront. Detroit, MI. HAER. NPS, US Department of the Interior.
Online article. 100 Years of flakers, roller, and cookers. Louis Cook, Free Press Editorial Writer, The Detroit Free Press. August 14, 1982,
Online Records Search, Wayne County Register of Deeds.
Online Records Search, MI Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
2328 Carpenter
Hamtramck, MI
1917
The residential wooden framed structure that was located at 2328 Carpenter Ave was built by the Detroit based Haw Construction Company. This structure sat upon a concrete block foundation and it had hardwood floors throughout.
There were a total of 11 rooms and three baths. The Interior walls were plastered and accented in pine trim. The exterior of this structure was originally finished with clapboard siding, but forty years later aluminum siding was installed over it. Composite shingles were used on its hipped roof system
1918
Within a seven year span the number of vacant lots in the City of Hamtramck rapidly filled up as homes were being built around the property located at 2328 Carpenter Ave.
1987
The house suffered significant water damage as a result of a neighboring house fire.
2011
In an effort to alleviate blight and to revitalize neighborhoods, The City of Hamtramck partnered with WARM Training Center and Detroit GreenWorks Solutions to pilot an alternative program to demolition. During its deconstruction the diary of a young woman who lived there in the 1960s was discovered. In this artifact are the descriptions of her life which illustrated the unique time in the history of Detroit and Hamtramck.
2012
The Carpenter House now lives on as thousands of board feet of beautiful heart pine are put to use once again. The Diary that was uncovered during its deconstruction was reunited with its rightful owner at the Detroit Re-Nailed Reclaimed Material Competition. Pieces made from this house have found their way across the country as far away as Utah. We are pleased to share this story of the house that built our business.
6404 Woodward Ave
DETROIT, MI
1914
In 1891 Detroit Mayor Hazen Pingree breaks ground on the construction of a twelve mile stretch of road that would be known as the Grand Boulevard. With the construction underway on Grand Boulevard, the intersection of Woodward Avenue and newly constructed rail lines, this area began to thrive as a viable commercial district.
The City of Detroit issued a building permit for the two-story building that is situated at the corner of Woodward and East Baltimore
Since constructed, the commercial building has had a wide variety of businesses operating out of the three different address associated with it including a bowling alley and billiards hall as well as a variety of restaurants.
The building is listed as originally being occupied by a saloon, restaurant and the offices of Bean & Deville Plumbing
1917
By 1917, the restaurant was replaced by the More Brothers Billiards Hall which would remain in business well into the 1930s
1927
The two-story building which has storefronts on both Woodward Avenue and Baltimore Street, has seen several cosmetic changes beginning in 1927
1930
The commercial building was briefly home to the Jos Papazian Shoe Store.
1938
The pool hall had been converted into a bowling alley and owned by Nathan Sheley
For nearly twenty years, the Wolverine Chophouse operated out of the building beginning in 1940 through 1963.
One of the last know businesses to be run out of the building at 6400 Woodward was a Caribbean themed restaurant which is seen by the bright pastel colors painted on its exterior.
2018
After sitting vacant for several years, the building is being redeveloped into a mixed use residential and retail space which will be named Baltimore Station 1. The renovations are scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2018.
SOURCES
National Park Service, New Center Commercial District, National Register Nomination
City of Detroit, Building and Safety Department, Building Permits
Burton Historical Collection, City Directories 1920-1974
Photo Credit -New Center Commercial District, National Register Nomination. Photographer Kristine M. Kidorf Date Photographed: September 13, 2015
3669 Chatsworth
DETROIT, MI
1896
The house once found at 3669 Chatsworth was located on Detroit's East Side near Mack and Outer Drive in Morningside neighborhood.
This area was originally settled by the French in the 1700s and would become part of the famous ribbon farms seen along the Detroit River.
The primary farms that would eventually make up the Morning Side neighborhood were owned by several individuals including the Trombly, Brown, Turner, and Martin families.
Prior to the early 19th Century, these farms were a part of the Township of Grosse Pointe until the City of Detroit annexed the surrounding land in 1917
Before the development of the Morningside neighborhood, the land was utilized by the Michigan National Guard as the Arthur J. Scully Rifle Range for the Michigan National Guard from around 1917 up until the 1920s
In the early 1920s the vast farm land began to be developed into middle class housing for Detroit's working class.
In 1935 the Alger Theater opened at the corner of Warren and East Outer Drive. At the time there were 100s of similar neighborhood theaters throughout the city. Today, it is the one of two that remain.
1940 the City of Detroit has a population of just over 1.6 million
1924
A permit for the construction of a free standing garage is approved.
1925
Menzel Graveline is the first individual associated with this property. He is listed as being a plumber by profession
1935
William Benedict a machinist , takes ownership of the home. He and his wife Rose live in this house for over forty years
1964
William passes away but his wife Rose continues to live in the home through the 1980s
The last know occupants to live in the home was Norman and Melvina Adams
2017
The home was purchased by neighbors who maintained the property for seven years before it was deconstructed in 2017 .
SOURCES
City of Detroit, Alger Theater National Register Nomination
City of Detroit, Building and Safety Department, Building Permits
Burton Historical Collection, City Directories 1920-1974
Interview with Lucas C. McGrail, former neighbor on 10-23-17
1507 Ferry Park
Detroit, MI
1917
1915
Henry Ford opens a 48 patient hospital staffed with doctors from Johns Hopkins. The hospital bearing his name was located on the edge of the city limits at Hamilton and West Grand Boulevard directly north of the newly constructed house at 1506 Ferry Park.
1927
William Durant decides to construct a fifteen-story building to house the General Motors Company in the New Center area on West Grand Boulevard, between Cass and Second. The building was originally named after Durant but was later changed to the General Motors Building. It had served as the company's World Headquarters until 2001 when it moved the last of its employees to the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit.
1959
Approximately ½ mile away from the 1506 Ferry Park home , Berry Gordy purchases the property which will become known as Motown's Hitsville USA.
1916
The 1st known occupant to live in the house is E. Williams
1917
Edward Menefee then lived in the home for three years
1920
Richard Wade purchased the property. The Wade family would remain in the house through the 1970s with Mrs. Anna Wade listed as the primary resident
1973
Beatrice Wade is listed as the primary resident associated with this property
1991
Allen and Bessie Birt own the house.
2000
Melvin Meyers and Paula Lee purchase the home from the Birt's
2010
After being sold to three different owners, the property goes into Tax Foreclosure
2015
The deconstructed wood from the house once found at 1506 Ferry Park has been creatively repurposed by The End Grain Woodworking Co.
SOURCES
City of Detroit Buildings and Safety Department
City of Detroit, Assessment Division, (Detroit, MI)
Detroit, MI, City Directories, 1890-1960, (Detroit, MI; The Burton Historical Collection)
The City of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Volume 1 By Clarence Monroe Burton, William Stocking, Gordon K. Miller
Wayne County, Treasurer's Office, (Detroit, MI)
more history coming soon…