Woodbridge Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Woodbridge Neighborhood Historic District is a historic neighborhood of primarily Victorian
homes located in Detroit, Michigan
. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980, with later boundary increases in 1997 and 2008.
was originally bounded by Trumbull Street, Calumet Street, Gibson Street, Grand River Avenue, Rosa Parks Boulevard, West Warren Avenue, Wabash Street, Railroad Tracks, and the Edsel Ford Freeway. The boundaries of the District were increased twice: in 1997, 4304-14 Trumbull Street (private residences) and 3800 Grand River Avenue were added to the district, and in 2008 the southeast corner of Trumbull Street and Warren Avenue (Saint Dominic Roman Catholic Church) was added.
Most structures in the district are located on north-south streets. The irregularly-shaped district would include structures:
Woodbridge is notable as an intact neighborhood of architecturally significant buildings, with in important effect on the history of Detroit. The neighborhood has largely escaped the redevelopment efforts that have obliterated many of Detroit's other historical neighborhoods, and the neighborhood stands as a rare survivor from the Victorian era
.
The neighborhood is named for William Woodbridge
, territorial governor of Michigan in 1840-41, who owned a large farm on which much of the neighborhood was subsequently built. Most of the structures within the neighborhood were built after 1870, beginning with modest cottages. Larger structures were built later, including the James Scripps house (now demolished, and turned into a city park) built in 1879. The Eighth Precinct Police Station, built in 1901, was architecturally designed to blend in with the lavish upper-class homes in the neighborhood.
As the automotive industry boomed, there was an increased demand for housing in the city of Detroit, and new buildings and apartment houses were constructed behind and between the existing homes in the neighborhood. During World War II, owners rented rooms and divided homes into apartments to house defense industry workers.
After the war, residents began leaving the Woodbridge neighborhood for homes in the suburbs. New residents to Woodbridge were less affluent. In the 1960s, the city cleared areas adjacent to the neighborhood to support revitalization. The residents of Woodbridge organized a Citizen's District Council to preserve the neighborhood, and successfully managed to stabilize and preserve many of the remaining homes. Recent activity has shifted perception of Woodbridge to that of an up-and-coming neighborhood. The Phoenix Group Companies based in the Woodbridge Historic District specializes in revitalization projects.
are:
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
homes located 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"....
. The district 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 1980, with later boundary increases in 1997 and 2008.
Description
The district as recognized by the National Register of Historic PlacesNational 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...
was originally bounded by Trumbull Street, Calumet Street, Gibson Street, Grand River Avenue, Rosa Parks Boulevard, West Warren Avenue, Wabash Street, Railroad Tracks, and the Edsel Ford Freeway. The boundaries of the District were increased twice: in 1997, 4304-14 Trumbull Street (private residences) and 3800 Grand River Avenue were added to the district, and in 2008 the southeast corner of Trumbull Street and Warren Avenue (Saint Dominic Roman Catholic Church) was added.
Most structures in the district are located on north-south streets. The irregularly-shaped district would include structures:
- On the east side of Wabash street, on both sides of Vermont Street, and on both sides of Rosa Parks Boulevard from the Edsel Ford Freeway to Warren Avenue.
- On the west side of Rosa Parks Boulevard from Warren Avenue to Grand River Avenue.
- On both sides of Hecla Street, Avery Street, and Commonwealth Street from the Edsel Ford Freeway to Grand River Avenue.
- On the west side of Trumbull Street from the Edsel Ford Freeway to Canfield Street.
- On the east side of Trumbull Street at the south corner of Warren Avenue.
- On both sides of Trumbull Street from Canfield Street to Grand River Avenue.
- On both sides of Lincoln Street and the west side of Gibson Street from Calumet Street to Grand River Avenue.
- The structure at 3800 Grand River Avenue (between Avery Street and Commonwealth Street).
History
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
.
The neighborhood is named for William Woodbridge
William Woodbridge
William Woodbridge was a U.S. statesman in the states of Ohio and Michigan and in the Michigan Territory prior to statehood...
, territorial governor of Michigan in 1840-41, who owned a large farm on which much of the neighborhood was subsequently built. Most of the structures within the neighborhood were built after 1870, beginning with modest cottages. Larger structures were built later, including the James Scripps house (now demolished, and turned into a city park) built in 1879. The Eighth Precinct Police Station, built in 1901, was architecturally designed to blend in with the lavish upper-class homes in the neighborhood.
As the automotive industry boomed, there was an increased demand for housing in the city of Detroit, and new buildings and apartment houses were constructed behind and between the existing homes in the neighborhood. During World War II, owners rented rooms and divided homes into apartments to house defense industry workers.
Redevelopment
Historic structures
Structures within the Woodbridge neighborhood that are also individually listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational 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...
are:
- Eighth Precinct Police Station
- Northwood - Hunter HouseHunter House (Detroit, Michigan)The Hunter House is located at 3985 Trumbull Avenue in the Woodbridge Neighborhood Historic District of Detroit, Michigan. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974. It is also known as the William Northwood House or the...
- Trinity Episcopal ChurchTrinity Episcopal Church (Detroit, Michigan)Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 1519 Martin Luther King Boulevard in the Woodbridge Historic District of Detroit, Michigan. The church was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980...
- Tumbull Avenue Presbyterian Church
External links
- Anthony Agbali, Jason Booza, Jennifer Creighton, Amanda Dudley, Richard Fancy, Lance Greene, Amy Howell, Kevin Johnson, Ken Kelso, Rachel Klamo, Mary Mans, Alexandria Meriano, Elizabeth Pare, Girthia Porchia, Michelle Proctor, Oliver Rue, Tim Scrimger, Joseph White, Shihong Yao, "University City - Woodbridge Historic Area Together: A Community Study of the Woodbridge Historic District", April 23, 2001, paper presented on COMM-ORG: The On-Line Conference on Community Organizing and Development. http://comm-org.wisc.edu/papers.htm.
- Woodbridge Historic District Association