Detroit - United States Post Office - Fort Street - 1908
by John Madison
Title
Detroit - United States Post Office - Fort Street - 1908
Artist
John Madison
Medium
Digital Art - Digital
Description
The Post Office Building
"The land that would become the home of the new federal building was once the site of Ft. Lernoult, which was built in 1778-79 and later renamed Ft. Shelby, the namesake of the hotel that stands today at Lafayette and First Street.
A design by James H. Windrim of Philadelphia was selected, and excavation began June 29, 1890. The building had a decidedly Richardsonian flair, its huge, roughly cut stones giving the building a castle-like appearance. Construction of the new Federal Building began April 11, 1891, but it would go slowly.
The building was originally named the United States Customs House and Post Office Building, but “the title was considered too long. For Detroiters, the building was better known as simply the Post Office Building.
The central tower above the main entrance reached 243 feet above the street (some reports say it was 285 feet, though that number is doubtful), and its capstone weighed 1.5 tons. The tower had four gargoyles at the base of the housing for the clock. The roof was covered with Spanish tiles and copper."
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February 8th, 2013
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