Detroit Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Detroit Club
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| Location | 712 Cass Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Wilson Eyre Jr., John Scott & Co. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival, Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001577 |
| Added to NRHP | February 2, 2005 |
The Detroit Club is a special private club located in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It's a place where people, often business leaders, can meet, relax, and socialize. The building was built in 1891. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 because of its important history and architecture.
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History of the Detroit Club
The idea for the Detroit Club started in 1882. A lawyer named Samuel Townsend Douglas and a banker named James Valentine Campbell, Jr. wanted to create a place. They imagined a club where local business people could meet and talk.
They started with just 10 members. They rented a house in Detroit and even hired a chef. Soon, 100 more people from Detroit joined their club. Some early members were important figures. These included Russell A. Alger, who was a former governor of Michigan. Hugh McMillan, who started the Michigan Telephone Company, also joined. Real estate leader James B. Book was another early member.
Within a year, the club became too big for its first home. So, they moved to a larger building on Fort Street. Less than 10 years later, the club decided to build its own special place. They hired an architect named Wilson Eyre to design their new building. This is the building you see today.
Architecture of the Club Building
The Detroit Club building is four stories tall. It is made of brick and stone. Its style is called Romanesque Revival. This style often uses round arches and strong, solid shapes.
The main entrance is unique. It is set back inside a curved archway with stairs. Inside the club, there are many different rooms. On the first floor, you can find a grill and a library. The second floor has a family room. The third floor holds the main dining room. There are also smaller meeting rooms on this floor.
The inside of the club is very fancy. It has beautiful wooden details and a wide main staircase. The main dining hall features a very large fireplace. Originally, the wood inside the club was lighter in color than it is now.
Important Events and Visitors
Many important events happened inside the Detroit Club. In 1902, the Automobile Club of Detroit was formed there. This was a big step for cars in the city.
In 1922, Michigan's governor, Alex Groesbeck, held meetings at the club. He was deciding who would take an open Senate seat. He chose James Couzens for the role. In 1930, Governor Fred W. Green met with Detroit bank presidents. They worked out plans for closing the city's banks during a difficult time.
Later, in 1944 and 1945, Henry Ford II held many meetings at the club. He was working to take control of Ford Motor Company from Harry Bennett. Also, Lee Iacocca used the club to start his plan. He wanted to help restore the Statue of Liberty and turn Ellis Island into a museum.
Many famous people have visited the Detroit Club. These include former presidents like Harry Truman, Herbert Hoover, and Franklin Roosevelt. Other important guests were Prince William of Sweden and Empress Zita of Austria. The Duke of Windsor also visited. Famous figures like Charles Lindbergh, John D. Rockefeller, and actor Edward G. Robinson were also entertained there.
See also
In Spanish: Detroit Club para niños
- List of American gentlemen's clubs
- Detroit Athletic Club
- Detroit Economic Club
