Woodbridge, Detroit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Woodbridge Neighborhood Historic District
|
|
Street scene on Avery, looking south from Willis
|
|
| Location | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Queen Anne, Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001931, 97001480 (boundary increase I), 08000225 (boundary increase II) |
| Added to NRHP | March 6, 1980, December 1, 1997 (boundary increase I), March 20, 2008 (boundary increase II) |
Woodbridge is a special old neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. It's known for its many beautiful homes built in the Victorian style.
This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's recognized as an important historic place. Later, in 1997 and 2008, the boundaries of the historic area were made larger. Woodbridge is also cool because it's a neighborhood with many old homes that are still standing. You can easily walk or bike from here to other parts of Detroit like Downtown, Midtown, New Center, and Corktown.
Contents
What is Woodbridge Like?
The Woodbridge neighborhood is officially recognized as a historic district. This means it has special rules to help protect its old buildings and unique look. The area is mostly made up of streets that run north and south.
The district has grown over time. When it was first listed, it had certain borders like Trumbull Street and Warren Avenue. In 1997, a few more private homes and a building on Grand River Avenue were added. Then in 2008, the Saint Dominic Roman Catholic Church was also included in the historic district.
History of Woodbridge
Woodbridge is a neighborhood with many important and beautiful buildings. It has played a big part in Detroit's history. The neighborhood started in the Victorian era, which was a long time ago. Unlike some other old areas in Detroit, Woodbridge has kept many of its original buildings.
The neighborhood is named after William Woodbridge. He was the governor of Michigan in 1840 and 1841. He owned a large farm where much of the neighborhood was later built.
Most of the buildings in Woodbridge were constructed after 1870. At first, people built smaller homes called cottages. Later, bigger houses were built. For example, the James Scripps house was built in 1879, but it's not there anymore. It's now a city park.
The Eighth Precinct Police Station was built in 1901. It was designed to look nice and fit in with the fancy homes nearby. When the car industry grew in Detroit, more people needed places to live. So, new buildings and apartment houses were built between the older homes. During World War II, many homes were divided into apartments. This helped house workers who came to Detroit for defense jobs.
After the war, some people started moving out of Woodbridge to the suburbs. Newer residents who moved in had less money. In the 1960s, the city cleared some areas next to the neighborhood. But the people living in Woodbridge wanted to save their community. They formed a group called the Citizen's District Council. This group worked hard to protect and keep many of the remaining homes.
Today, Woodbridge is seen as a place where the city is coming back to life. When homes go up for sale, many people want to buy them.
Cool Buildings in Woodbridge
Woodbridge has several interesting and important buildings:
- The Eighth Precinct Police Station is at 4150 Grand River Avenue. It was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1973. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 2013, the building was changed into apartments, helping to bring new life to Woodbridge.
- The Northwood - Hunter House is also known as the William Northwood House. You can find it at 3985 Trumbull Avenue. This house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It was also named a Michigan State Historic Site that same year.
- The Trinity Episcopal Church is now called Spirit of Hope church. It's located at 1519 Martin Luther King Boulevard. This church was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979. It was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
- The Trumbullplex is a special place. It's a housing collective, which means a group of people live and work together. It's also a place where shows and art events happen. It started in 1993 when the group bought two Victorian houses and an art space.
- The Trumbull Avenue Presbyterian Church is at 1435 Brainard. It's near Scripps Park. This church was added to the State of Michigan Registry of Historic Sites in 1977.
- The Detroit Area Council is now called the Great Lakes Council. This group helps lead the Boy Scouts of America in the Detroit area. They chose to build their main office in Woodbridge. The building has offices for staff and a store for scout supplies. It opened in 2003, thanks to donations from many people.
Education
Detroit Public Schools runs the public schools in the area. Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men is one of the schools located in Woodbridge.
See also
In Spanish: Woodbridge (barrio de Detroit) para niños
