New Amsterdam Historic District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
New Amsterdam Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Streetscape on Cass, taken from where 425 York once stood. 6001 Cass is to the left; 6050, 6110, and 6160 Cass line the street to the right. The rear of 41-47 Burroughs is at the extreme right
Location	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Architect	Albert Kahn; et al.
Architectural style	Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, Late Victorian
NRHP reference No.	01000570
Added to NRHP	May 30, 2001

The New Amsterdam Historic District is a special area in Detroit, Michigan. It's filled with old buildings that tell a story about the city's past. You can find these buildings on streets like Amsterdam, Burroughs, and York, between Woodward Avenue and Second Avenue. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, which means it's officially recognized as important history.

What is the New Amsterdam Historic District?

The New Amsterdam Historic District became a recognized historic area in 2001. Both the National Register of Historic Places and the City of Detroit agreed on its importance. It includes specific buildings on Amsterdam Street, Burroughs Street, Cass Avenue, Second Avenue, and York Street. These buildings are protected because of their history.

A Look Back at the District's History

The old Burroughs Adding Machine factory, now Henry Ford Health Headquarters.

In the 1890s, major railroad lines were built in Detroit. This area, known as the Milwaukee Junction, helped industries grow. Many factories were built here to use the rail lines, especially for making cars.

The area east of Woodward Avenue is now the Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District. The New Amsterdam Historic District is west of Woodward and south of the railroad tracks. Some shops and businesses were also built here, especially along Cass Avenue.

Even though it's not part of this district, the huge Burroughs Adding Machine factory helped shape the area. It was designed by Albert Kahn. Today, it's used as offices for Henry Ford Health Systems.

Important Buildings in the District

435 Amsterdam Street

435 Amsterdam Street during renovation.

This building is currently being updated. It will be used for parking and new shops.

Cadillac Assembly Plant (450 Amsterdam Street)

The Cadillac Plant, now home to Wescott Paper.

The Cadillac Plant around 1910.

The Cadillac Assembly Plant was designed by George D. Mason in 1905. It was built for the Cadillac Motor Car Company. The plant was built very quickly, in just 67 days, after a fire damaged the first buildings.

Cadillac moved its car production in 1920. After that, Wescott Paper and other businesses rented space here. Wescott Paper is still in the building today. This building was one of the first to use strong, reinforced concrete in factories.

Graphic Arts Building (41-47 Burroughs Street)

The Graphic Arts Building.

The Graphic Arts Building was designed by Murphy and Burns in 1926. It has a cool exterior made of terra cotta. Originally, it was home to artists and graphic design businesses. This included engravers, photographers, and art studios.

Today, this building has been turned into apartments called "Lofts at New Amsterdam Phase I." There are 39 apartments inside.

G. A. Richards Oakland Company Service Department (440 Burroughs Street)

The G. A. Richards Oakland Company Service Department, now TechTown.

This car dealership was designed by Albert Kahn in 1927. The owner, George A. Richards, also owned the radio station WJR and the Detroit Lions football team.

Later, the Jerry McCarthy Chevrolet Company used this building as a dealership. Chevrolet also had a creative services department here until 1996.

Now, the building is called TechOne. It's part of the TechTown research center, which helps new businesses grow.

Carney-Labadie Building (5911-5919 Cass Avenue)

The Carney-Labadie Building, now John King Big Bookstore.

A Firestone badge on the Carney-Labadie Building.

C. F. Carney and Joseph Labadie started their company in 1910. They sold Exide batteries and Firestone tires. In 1922, they bought land on Cass Avenue to build their main office.

This building is now the John King Big Bookstore. However, the bookstore closed in 2017.

Cadillac Sales & Service (6001 Cass Avenue)

The Cadillac Sales and Service Building.

The six-story Cadillac Sales and Service Building was designed by Albert Kahn in 1927. It first had offices and a car showroom. In the 1970s, it became classrooms for Wayne State University's Criminal Justice program. The building has now been fixed up and turned into a WeWork space. WeWork offers shared offices for people to work and meet.

Stewart-Warner Speedometer Corporation Building (6050 Cass Avenue)

The Stewart-Warner Speedometer Corporation Building, now Wayne State University Police.

The Stewart-Warner Speedometer Corporation Building was built in 1925. It was the Detroit office for the Stewart-Warner Speedometer Corporation. Later, it was used for car service and a credit union. Wayne State University then used it for their parking and mail departments.

In 2008, Wayne State updated the building. It now houses the Department of Public Safety, which is the university's police department.

American Beauty Irons (American Electrical Heater Building) (6110 Cass Avenue)

The Woodward Avenue side of the American Beauty Iron Co. building.

The Cass Avenue side of the American Beauty Iron Co. building.

The American Beauty Iron Building was designed by Albert Kahn. It was built in 1908 for a company that made electric irons and toasters. Part of the building was taken down in 1932 when Woodward Avenue was made wider. A new section was added in 1934.

This building was torn down in August 2012. This made space for the third phase of TechTown, a research center nearby.

Walter J. Bemb Buick-Pontiac Dealership (6160 Cass Avenue)

The Walter J. Bemb dealership, now Dagleish Cadillac.

The Walter J. Bemb Buick-Pontiac Dealership was designed by Albert Kahn in 1927. Walter J. Bemb was a car pioneer in Detroit. He worked for Ford Motor Company and Hudson Motor Car Company before starting his own business in 1912. He sold Hudson and Essex cars. Later, he worked with General Motors.

In 1972, Dalgleish Cadillac bought the building. This dealership had been in business since 1922. It was the last Cadillac dealership in Detroit, closing in 2009. Wayne State University plans to update this building as part of a large project. It will become a biomedical research center.

Engine Co. 17/Ladder Co. 7 (6100 Second Avenue)

Engine Co. 17/Ladder Co. 7 fire station.

The Engine 17 and Ladder 7 fire companies started on June 17, 1893. Their first station was at Cass and Amsterdam. In 1921, they sold the old firehouse. In late 1922, they moved into a new firehouse at Second and Burroughs. This fire station has been helping the community ever since.

Detroit Edison Amsterdam Substation (6126 Second Avenue)

The Amsterdam Substation on Second Avenue.

A plaque on the Amsterdam Substation.

The Amsterdam Substation was built in 1929 for Detroit Edison. It is still used today to help provide electricity.

Detroit Edison Substation (6134 Second Avenue)

The Detroit Edison Substation, now the Detroit Children's Museum.

The Detroit Edison Substation at 6134 Second Avenue was built around 1910. It was built by the Detroit Edison Company. The building was not used for a while. In 2001, the Detroit Public Schools bought it and spent money to fix it up. After the repairs, the schools moved the Detroit Children's Museum to this new location.

Caille Brothers Building (6200 Second Avenue)

The Caille Brothers Building.

The Caille Brothers Building was built in different parts between 1900 and 1930.

The Caille Brothers Company started making things in Detroit in 1895. A. Arthur Caille, who invented the penny slot machine, moved his business here. He ran the company with his brother Adolf. They became one of the biggest makers of penny slot machines in the world. In 1912, they had over 400 employees. Later, they also made boat motors, scales, and conveyor belts for grocery stores.

The building was later known as the Century Floral Building.

This property has also been turned into apartments, called "Lofts at New Amsterdam, Phase II." There are plans for 62 apartments here.

425 York Street

The parking lot where 425 York Street used to be.

This building, located at the corner of Cass Avenue and York Street, was torn down by Wayne State University. Now, there is a parking lot in its place.

Education in the Area

The New Center area, which includes the New Amsterdam Historic District, is part of the Detroit Public Schools district.

Students living here attend Thirkell Elementary School, Golightly K-8, Hutchins Middle School, and Northwestern High School.