Harmonie Club (Detroit, Michigan) facts for kids
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The Harmonie Club
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The Harmonie Club from the south
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| Location | 267 East Grand River Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | Richard E. Raseman |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001924 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 4, 1980 |
The Harmonie Club is a historic building in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. You can find it at 267 East Grand River Avenue. This special building was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1975. Later, in 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Club's Story
Detroit's streets were planned in a unique way by Augustus Woodward. This plan created some interesting triangular areas, like Harmonie Park. In the 1830s and 1840s, many German immigrants moved to Detroit.
To keep their traditions alive, a group of Detroit Germans started a singing club in 1849. They called it the Gesang-Verein Harmonie. In 1874, the club built its first clubhouse. It was a wooden building located at Lafayette and Beaubien.
Sadly, this wooden clubhouse burned down in 1893. The club quickly held a contest for German architects to design a new building. Richard Raseman, who also designed the Grand Army of the Republic Building, won the contest. The new Harmonie Club building was then built right across from Harmonie Park.
Building Design
The Harmonie Club is a four-story building with a basement. It has a sloped roof and is made of light brown bricks and stone. The building's curved corner is special because it fits the unique shape of the land.
The first two floors are decorated with stonework. The top two floors have extra bands of decoration and arched windows. Corinthian columns and a fancy balcony above the entrance give the building a classic, elegant look. Inside, the club has beautiful plasterwork, dark oak wood panels, and special Pewabic tiles. The club used to have a fancy dining area, a tavern, card rooms, a bowling alley, and lounges for members.
What It's Used For Now
Over time, fewer people joined the Harmonie Club. Because of this, the building was sold in 1974. It stayed empty for many years, until the 1990s.
As of 2007, the city of Detroit had plans to create a cultural area around Harmonie Park. This plan included the Harmonie Club building. The club was officially recognized as a historic property by Michigan in 1975. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The city of Detroit also recognized it as historic in 1988.
See also
- Harmonie Centre
- Music of Detroit
