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 in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It's a place where people can meet, socialize, and relax. The building was built a long time ago, in 1891. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, which means it's an important historical building.
History of the Detroit Club
The Detroit Club started in 1882. Two men, Samuel Townsend Douglas and James Valentine Campbell, Jr., wanted to create a place for local business people to meet. They started with just 10 members.
They rented a house and hired a chef. Soon, 100 more people from Detroit joined the club. Famous early members included Russell A. Alger, who was once the governor of Michigan.
The club quickly grew too big for its first home. Within a year, they moved to a larger building. Less than 10 years later, the club hired an architect named Wilson Eyre to design a brand new building just for them. This is the building you see today.
Architecture and Design
The Detroit Club building is four stories tall. It is made of brick and stone. The style is called Romanesque Revival.
The front door is special. It is tucked away inside a curved archway with stairs. Inside, the club has many rooms. On the first floor, there is a grill and a library. The second floor has a family room.
The main dining room is on the third floor, along with smaller meeting rooms. The inside of the building has beautiful wood details. There is a wide main staircase and a very large fireplace in the dining hall.
Important Events at the Club
Many important things happened inside the Detroit Club over the years. In 1902, the Automobile Club of Detroit was started at a meeting here.
In 1922, Michigan Governor Alex Groesbeck met at the club. He decided who would fill an open spot in the Senate. He chose James Couzens.
Later, in 1930, Governor Fred W. Green met with bank presidents in Detroit. They worked out plans for closing the city's banks during a difficult time.
From 1944 to 1945, Henry Ford II held many meetings at the club. He worked to take control of Ford Motor Company from Harry Bennett.
Also, Lee Iacocca used the club to start his plan to help restore the Statue of Liberty. He also worked to turn Ellis Island into a museum.
Many famous people have visited the Detroit Club. These include presidents like Harry Truman, Herbert Hoover, and Franklin Roosevelt. Other important guests were Prince William of Sweden and Empress Zita of Austria. Famous Americans like Charles Lindbergh and John D. Rockefeller also visited.
See also
- List of American gentlemen's clubs
- Detroit Athletic Club
- Detroit Economic Club
