Large Scale Central

Historic Detroit Train Station Coming Down

General Discussion
#1

I know some of you here have been to the old train station in Detroit. I remember it as a youngster, all the rich architecture, beautiful marble, grand stair cases and the overall feeling of awe when you walked down the great halls… Well, the end is here. The announcement was made yesterday on the radio that it will be coming down. What a pitiful end to such an icon to the American people.

If you don’t know about the station look at the link below. It has several now and then pictures along with some interesting information.

http://onlyndetroit.com/html/decay/ond-0016-all_abord.htm#

Jon.

#2

So sad, so short sighted.

Progressives, my butt!

#3

It is friggin pitiful that they are going to tear the station down. It appears much of the marble that was easily accessable has already been looted.
We bulldoze too much of our history in the US.
Such a grande building at one time. It should have never been allowed to reach the state of disrepair it is in.
But even now, it does not look beyond saving.
Thanks for the link, Jon. Nice to see the photos of what once was. Sad, that soon the photos will be all that remain.
Ralph

#4

Over on the West coast, work is still in progress on the full restoration of King street Station, Seattle.

What a wonder THAT will be, to see the ceiling in all its glory again!

tac
www.ovgrs.org

#5

Jon - Thanks for posting. A shame it was let to decay to this point, but I agree that it is now beyond saving.

In Buffalo, NY, where I grew up, Central Terminal is in jeopardy. It has been looted for all of it’s valuable pipe and wire, but preservationists got a hold of the property before it was a total loss. Many of the valuable artifacts have been safely stored and attempts have been made to restore and re-use the great hall. They are far from out of the woods though. The preservationists biggest enemy is time and lack of finances. It costs millions just to stabilize a building the size of these huge stations.

It’s sad that they could not have been better preserved when they were still in reasonable condition. Creative re-use was not in the real estate developer’s vocabulary in the 70’s.

#6

I hate to hear that. Heck, I get sad when I see old road beds just laying, lifeless. I picture in my mind some brute steam engine pulling people having a grand ole time in trailing coaches.

-Will

#7

Since the Detroit City Council is handling this don’t be surprised if the ole depot doesn’t come down right away. Council wants to use federal $$$, the Depot is a Federal Historical Landmark as well as a State of Michigan landmark, rumor has it federal funds cannot be used to tear down a federal landmark. Also, the station is connected to an old REA bldg across the street and ex NYC (now CN-CP) mainline out of Windsor into Detroit so consequences of blowing the depot have to be examined as to resulting possible damages to these other structures.
The MC Depot is in a sorry state, and is an eyesore and should be torn down …BUT… I would hate to see it go as I have many memories of the old place. Between 1957 & 1985 I took many trains out of that station either to return home to New York or to Chicago for connections for vacation destinations but mostly because I worked in the depot from 1968 until 1985 as a train dispatcher for the NYC-PC-CR

#8

Sad to see this happen to such a grand bldg. !

thanks Jon for the note with the link earlier.

doug c :frowning:

#9

I heard the Michigan Central Station still stands.
Comments on YouTube indicate volunteers are going to begin restoration work.
Here is a cool video from 1987.
Ralph

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbtyUsnrY2I&feature=related

#10

The last I had heard (shortly after my original post) the owner of the station had a study done. The results were publicly announced and the bottom line was, the city owned an entrance to the station on the back side. It was a lower level entrance and most if not all of the illegal entries into the station were from that entrance. So now, the finger is pointed at the city. And everyone is wondering how the damage to the station from vandals will be handled. I mean come on, if the city owns that entrance and never secured it, who is going to take the fall for the easy entry that has caused the place to be destroyed? Ya, there are lots of egg shells to step around right now. Then we need to consider the fact that the station is now a listed historical site (at the federal level no less). And the bottom line at the studies announcement by the owner was pretty much “the station is not coming down. Period”.

Jon.

#11

The station looks fixable !!
Shame of the whole thing it seems nobody cares how hard our fore fathers worked to create such a lasting masterpiece for their children only to be destroyed by negligence. Not only are the multiple owners of the facility at fault but so are the parents that produced children with no respect or morale values that aided in it’s demise.
Some of the “rattle can” artwork is amazing and I would like to find that cat to paint up a couple of my 100ton hoppers.
Thanks Jon…good post
:wink:
God Bless America!

#12

Fixable ?! I worked in that bldg from 1968 until 1985 and when they moved our office out the bldg was in dire need of new plumbing, new heat (there was no a/c in the bldg), and new wiring (when the floors were washed, phone lines & some electrical functions ceased to operate) The bldg has been vacant for over 20 years, water in the lower basement would make you gag with the smell, I’m no construction person, but I really can’t see how it could be saved at this point in time.

#13

I would think it can be saved.
Looks like the main structure is solid.
It would probably be cost prohibitive to restore it to the original trim level.
But you can do cool things with sprayed concrete and stucco.
Ralph

#14
Fred Ottusch said:
Fixable ?! I worked in that bldg from 1968 until 1985 and when they moved our office out the bldg was in dire need of new plumbing, new heat (there was no a/c in the bldg), and new wiring (when the floors were washed, phone lines & some electrical functions ceased to operate) The bldg has been vacant for over 20 years, water in the lower basement would make you gag with the smell, I'm no construction person, but I really can't see how it could be saved at this point in time.
That was once said about my current home?? Just about anything is fixable if one puts their mind to it instead of finger pointing and forget about the cost or whom is going to pay for it. However in todays society there is always that dirty 4 letter word at play that many don't like to hear....."WORK" ;)
#15

The two lowest level basements were completely under water up until a few years ago. When they pumped out the upper/second level it made big news. I have no idea if it’s flooded again but I’ll bet it is…

The original building was never actually completed. There was a huge rush/push to get the station open so the top floor was never built out. Actually, maybe it was the top 3 floors? Damn, I’m starting to forget things…

But, ya. It could be saved. But then again, it’s in Detroit. The cesspool of our state. Most of the damage you see now was actually done by local vandals shortly after the station was closed. I think there at least one or two windows that haven’t been broken out though.

Jon.

#16

They say new windows and securing the station should begin soon.
I would think they would have to deal with the water before sealing up the building.
Ralph

#17

I’ve always wondered how much water enters the building through the open windows and doors. And broken skylight glass. It’s actually pretty dry in there when we go down there. Err, so I’ve been told.

Jon.

#18

Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station just recently went through a major renovation costing close to 100 million dollars. Built in the 30’s it was in continuous use though, as a major transportation hub for Amtrak, Septa, NJTransit and PATCO.

(http://97.74.10.37/30st/images/newgallery/station/7.jpg)

Both it’s basement and sub-basement levels are completely under water as the station resides right next to the Schuylkill River. Most of the communication and electrical conduits are located down there.

(http://97.74.10.37/30st/images/newgallery/station/11.jpg)

(http://97.74.10.37/30st/images/newgallery/station/2.jpg)

(http://97.74.10.37/30st/images/newgallery/station/1.jpg)

http://97.74.10.37/30st/

#19

Ken,

Now that is pretty cool! Always like to see old buildings rennovated instead of used as land fill.

#20

Fortunately, they did the same thing with the old Reading RR terminal in Philly.

(http://www.paconvention.com/home2/assets/images/media/headhouse2_view.jpg)

They turned it into the Pa Convention Ctr. Parts of the old terminal are used as the entrance to the Convention Ctr and another part is used as a Market. I was working in Philly when they built the Ctr. The Reading Terminal Market is a great place to eat.

(http://www.paconvention.com/home2/assets/images/media/Headhouse_Entrance_view.jpg)

Before they started building it, the old Reading RR passenger train shed was still standing, along with the abutment that carried the tracks into the train shed. That part was all torn down to make way for the convention Ctr. Where the train shed stood, the new convention ctr. has an imprint on the floor of all the tracks that entered the shed. Pretty cool if you can see it. Most times you can’t because of exhibits and things set up in there.