Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District is a historic district
located along Piquette Street in Detroit, Michigan
, from Woodward Avenue on the west to Hastings Street on the east. The district extends approximately one block south of Piquette to Harper, and one block north to the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Line. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2004.
The area along Piquette was an important center for automobile production in the early 20th century. Ford Motor Company
, Studebaker
, Cadillac
, Dodge
, and Regal Motor Car had plants in the area, as well as suppliers such as Fisher Body
. In 1911, the two largest automobile producers in the world, Studebaker and Ford, were located next door to each other on Piquette. Although the area is largely quiet now, as recently as the 1950s there were 50,000 workers employed in plants in the district.
Major railroad infrastructure, known as the Milwaukee Junction
, was built in the 1890s to facilitate industrial expansion in the city of Detroit. The heart of Milwaukee Junction was Piquette Avenue, although industrial plants were built in this area on both sides of Woodward Avenue, with the automotive industry prominently involved. The area west of Woodward and south of the railroad tracks is the New Amsterdam Historic District
, while a portion of the area east of Woodward is now the Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District.
The Autocar Service Building is located on the southwest corner of Piquette and Brush. It is currently owned by the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Department.
The Studebaker Plant was located on the north side of Piquette, between Brush and John R. The building first housed Wayne Automotive in 1906. In 1908, Wayne merged with Northern Motor Car to form the E-M-F Company
. The owners of E-M-F formed a manufacturing and distribution partnership with Studebaker
, and eventually Studebaker took control of E-M-F (and the plant) in 1910. Studebaker continued to manufacture automobiles in the plant until 1925. After Studebaker left the plant, Chrysler
used it until the mid-1960s as a parts facility.
The building was used in part for warehousing after that, as well as home the Piquette Market, a meat wholesaler. In June 2005, the plant was completely destroyed in a fire. As of 2008, a shelter for homeless veterans was planned for the site.
on February 22, 2002.
The Fisher Body Plant 23 is located on the northeast corner of Piquette and Beaubien.
The Fisher Body Plant 21 is located on the southeast corner of Piquette and St. Antoine. It was designed in 1921 by Albert Kahn for Fisher Body
, who manufactured Buick and Cadillac bodies in the plant until 1925. The plant is six stories tall, with a footprint of 200 feet (61 m) by 581 feet (177.1 m) and an interior area of 536,000 square feet. During the Great Depression
, Fisher suspended production and the building was used as a soup kitchen and homeless shelter. The plant was used as an engineering design facility from 1930–1956; during World War II
, the factory produced P-80 Lockheed Shooting Star Planes, FG-4 (F4U-4) Corsair Shipboard Fighters, and some assemblies for B-25 Mitchell bombers. After 1956, the plant was used to build Cadillac limousine bodies; GM closed the plant in 1984. After GM left, several paint companies used the building; it closed for good in 1994.
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
located along Piquette Street in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, from Woodward Avenue on the west to Hastings Street on the east. The district extends approximately one block south of Piquette to Harper, and one block north to the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Line. 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 2004.
The area along Piquette was an important center for automobile production in the early 20th century. Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
, Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
, Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
, and Regal Motor Car had plants in the area, as well as suppliers such as Fisher Body
Fisher Body
Fisher Body is an automobile coachbuilder founded by the Fisher brothers in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan; it is now an operating division of General Motors Company...
. In 1911, the two largest automobile producers in the world, Studebaker and Ford, were located next door to each other on Piquette. Although the area is largely quiet now, as recently as the 1950s there were 50,000 workers employed in plants in the district.
General history
Milwaukee Junction
Milwaukee Junction is an area in Detroit, Michigan with significant history related to the automobile industry. Located near the railroad junction of the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad, and the Grand Trunk Western Railroad lines, the area encompassed the streets of E Grand Boulevard and Clay St....
, was built in the 1890s to facilitate industrial expansion in the city of Detroit. The heart of Milwaukee Junction was Piquette Avenue, although industrial plants were built in this area on both sides of Woodward Avenue, with the automotive industry prominently involved. The area west of Woodward and south of the railroad tracks is the New Amsterdam Historic District
New Amsterdam Historic District
The New Amsterdam Historic District is a historic district located in Detroit, Michigan. Buildings in this district are on or near three sequential east-west streets on the two blocks between Woodward Avenue and Second Avenue...
, while a portion of the area east of Woodward is now the Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District.
Autocar Service Building
E-M-F/Studebaker Plant (201 - 285 Piquette)
E-M-F Company
The E-M-F Company was an early American automobile manufacturer that produced automobiles from 1909 to 1912. The name E-M-F was gleaned from the initials of the three company founders: Barney Everitt , William Metzger , and Walter Flanders .- Everitt...
. The owners of E-M-F formed a manufacturing and distribution partnership with Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
, and eventually Studebaker took control of E-M-F (and the plant) in 1910. Studebaker continued to manufacture automobiles in the plant until 1925. After Studebaker left the plant, Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
used it until the mid-1960s as a parts facility.
The building was used in part for warehousing after that, as well as home the Piquette Market, a meat wholesaler. In June 2005, the plant was completely destroyed in a fire. As of 2008, a shelter for homeless veterans was planned for the site.
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant (461 Piquette)
The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is located at 461 Piquette, on the northwest corner of Piquette and Beaubien. It is a three-story mill-style building designed by Field, Hinchman, and Smith for Ford in 1904. The first Model Ts were built in this building. The building was designated a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on February 22, 2002.
Fisher Body Plant 23 (601 Piquette)
Fisher Body Plant 21 (700 Piquette)
Fisher Body
Fisher Body is an automobile coachbuilder founded by the Fisher brothers in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan; it is now an operating division of General Motors Company...
, who manufactured Buick and Cadillac bodies in the plant until 1925. The plant is six stories tall, with a footprint of 200 feet (61 m) by 581 feet (177.1 m) and an interior area of 536,000 square feet. During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Fisher suspended production and the building was used as a soup kitchen and homeless shelter. The plant was used as an engineering design facility from 1930–1956; during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the factory produced P-80 Lockheed Shooting Star Planes, FG-4 (F4U-4) Corsair Shipboard Fighters, and some assemblies for B-25 Mitchell bombers. After 1956, the plant was used to build Cadillac limousine bodies; GM closed the plant in 1984. After GM left, several paint companies used the building; it closed for good in 1994.