Michigan Bell and Western Electric Warehouse
Encyclopedia
The Michigan Bell and Western Electric Warehouse is a former commercial warehouse building located at 882 Oakman Boulevard (also numbered as 14300 Woodrow Wilson) in Detroit, Michigan
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2009. It is now known as the Neighborhood Service Organization.
. Western Electric used the building as its Michigan headquarters until 1958. The next year, the Yellow Pages operation moved into the building, and it was used by Michigan Bell
until 1999.
For some years until the mid-1980s, the building was notable for its "Weather-Phone" sign, under the Yellow Pages logo. This translucent white plastic sign, modeled after the Western Electric model 500 desk telephone, was backlit with lights of different colors, providing a basic weather forecast to motorists on the Lodge Freeway at night. A red telephone meant warmer weather was forecast in the next 24 hours, blue meant cooler, and yellow, no change in temperature. The lighting would blink when precipitation was expected, whereas a steady light meant neither rain nor snow was expected.
In late 2009, a mixed-use renovation is planned for the structure, combining the administrative offices and services of the Neighborhood Service Organization with housing for the homeless. Total investment is expected to be $50,000,000.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2009. It is now known as the Neighborhood Service Organization.
History
This structure was built in 1929-30 as a warehouse, garage, and office space for Western ElectricWestern Electric
Western Electric Company was an American electrical engineering company, the manufacturing arm of AT&T from 1881 to 1995. It was the scene of a number of technological innovations and also some seminal developments in industrial management...
. Western Electric used the building as its Michigan headquarters until 1958. The next year, the Yellow Pages operation moved into the building, and it was used by Michigan Bell
Michigan Bell
Michigan Bell is the subsidiary of AT&T serving the state of Michigan. Following the Bell System divestiture on January 8, 1982, the company became a subsidiary of Ameritech, the Regional Bell operating company that served the midwestern United States...
until 1999.
For some years until the mid-1980s, the building was notable for its "Weather-Phone" sign, under the Yellow Pages logo. This translucent white plastic sign, modeled after the Western Electric model 500 desk telephone, was backlit with lights of different colors, providing a basic weather forecast to motorists on the Lodge Freeway at night. A red telephone meant warmer weather was forecast in the next 24 hours, blue meant cooler, and yellow, no change in temperature. The lighting would blink when precipitation was expected, whereas a steady light meant neither rain nor snow was expected.
In late 2009, a mixed-use renovation is planned for the structure, combining the administrative offices and services of the Neighborhood Service Organization with housing for the homeless. Total investment is expected to be $50,000,000.