Packard plant update

The enormous 35-acre Packard site made news throughout 2013. Vagrants caused several fires, and scrappers continued to pick its bones of structural steel causing the collapse of several sections of different buildings. In July Bill Hults, a would-be developer from Chicago, made overtures to purchase the site, but failed to produce the money. 

In October the entire site went on the Wayne County auction block. A high bid of over $6 million dollars was made by a Texas doctor who  put up about $200,000 in earnest money, but ultimately failed to comply with the auction process and forfeited the cash. The property was then awarded to the next highest bidder, who turned out to be the Chicago developer whose bid was $2 million. He put $100,000 down to secure his bid, but again failed to produce the money. The property was then awarded to Fernando Palazuelo, a developer from Peru whose $405,000 bid was the 3rd highest.

Lintel of main entrance to the Packard Motor Car Co.

Detroit

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The photo above was taken just days before the entire entrance facade was removed from the building and shipped to America's Packard Museum in Dayton, Ohio. This piece of Detroit's automotive and architectural history may be gone, but it is available to you as a 10" x 20", 12" x 36" or a nearly life-size 20" x 60" canvas gallery wrap photographic print. Each canvas has a solid substrate to prevent warping, is 1 1/4" deep, has a finished back with wall bumpers and hanging hardware already installed.  A "must have" for any Packard owner or enthusiast !

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Michigan Central Depot Centennial

Michigan Central Station

Detroit

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When Detroit's Michigan Central Railroad depot opened a century ago on December 26, 1913,  it was a majestic symbol of the city's grandeur and phenomenal industrial success.

It was the tallest railroad station in the world, and the fourth tallest building in Detroit. The Michigan Central Railroad (a subsidiary of William Vanderbilt's New York Central RR) spent $16 million - about $332 million today - on the new station, office building, yards and the underwater rail tunnel, which opened on Oct. 16, 1910. The cost of the station alone was about $2.5 million ($55 million today).

Today its hollow ruin has become an icon of the city's monumental decline.


From 1884 to 1913 the Michigan Central Railroad operated out of a depot in downtown Detroit at Third and Jefferson. In 1906 the company began constructing a tunnel under the Detroit River to Canada. To meet the demands of its growing business the railroad decided a new and much larger depot should be built nearby and began acquiring property in the Corktown neighborhood in 1908.

The new depot was to be formally opened on January 4, 1914, but a fire broke out at the old depot around 2 p.m. on December 26, 1913. The flames spread and it was quickly determined that the building was no longer usable. To avoid disruption of service, operations were hastily moved to the new building, and at 5:20 p.m. the first train departed for Saginaw and Bay City. An hour later its first inbound train arrived from Chicago.

Seventy-four years later, at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 5, 1988, Amtrak 353 bound for Chicago became the last train to roll out of the once-grand depot.

Its only use in the last quarter century has been to serve as an easel for graffiti vandals, a makeshift shelter for vagrants, a target of scavengers and scrappers who have stripped it of anything and everything of value, a paintball shooting gallery, and an occasional set for apocalyptic films.


Read more about it here:
http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/michigan-central-station/


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Now Showing at Fred's Ice Cream - Northville

Fred's Ice Cream has partnered with State of Mind Gallery and is displaying some of my canvases with a Northville and soda "flavor."

Fred's is a localy-owned family business named after the owners' late father. Most products in the store are from Michigan-based companies, and they serve Hudsonville Ice Cream in homemade waffle cones which are made right in the store!  Fred's fountain fare features floats with Michigan Soda Company flavors, ice cream sundaes, and fresh-fruit blended ice cream. There is also a large selection of Gelato, frozen yogurt and Dippin' Dots, too. Be sure to visit their store, web site, and facebook page.

Upper level of Northville Square
133 W. Main at Wing St.

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 Northville Clock (24 x 30)

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 Vintage Vernor's Bottle Cap  (16 x 16)

 Vintage Vernor's Sign  (12 x 36)

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  Manhole Cover  (24 x 36)

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 Northville Marquis Theatre  (24 x 36)

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New canvas size for Packard plant entrance

In August, 2008 the main entryway facade of Detroit's Packard plant was removed and shipped to America's Packard Museum in Dayton, Ohio. At present it has not been reassembled and only the lintel is on display. (Read more about it here.)

Can't or don't want to travel all the way to Dayton, Ohio to see this historic automotive artifact? Now you can enjoy a canvas wrap replica in your office, den, or garage.

Previously only available as a 20" x 60" canvas wrap,

it is now available in a slightly smaller 12" x 36" canvas wrap size.

Signed, 12" high x 36" wide x 1 1/4" deep canvas wrap.

A "must have" for any Packard owner or enthusiast !

Area outside of red rectangle is wrapped around sides.

NOTE: These canvases are printed as they are ordered, so please allow up to 3 weeks for free delivery.

Order yours here

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The Mystery of Novi's Name

Manhole Cover - Novi, Michigan

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 It is documented that the area west of Farmington, Michigan was first settled by Erastus Ingersoll and several other families in April, 1825, one month before the opening of the Erie Canal. But, how Novi's name came to be is shrouded in mystery and myth. One common notion is that this place was the sixth stop, toll gate, or mail drop (No. 6, or, in Roman numerals, No. VI) along a road, railroad. or stagecoach line. This is completely false because the town was named and incorporated in 1830, and Novi's toll road was not built until 1855, and the railroad didn't arrive until 1861.

The story of Novi's name will probably never be determined with any certainty, but it is possible that it may have a Yugoslavian connection. In 1936 Novi officials received a letter from the Yugoslavian Consulate in Chicago saying many people in Yugoslavia knew of the town called Novi in Michigan. The letter related a romantic legend of a young soldier who fled to the U. S., and that his heartbreaking tale of lost love had influenced the selection of the name. 

There is no documentation to corroborate this tale, but there may be a grain of truth in it. In the 1990s a Novi News reporter was vacationing in Croatia and took it upon himself to investigate a possible connection. He found no concrete clues to the city's name, but did find that the names of a large number of cities in the area began with "Novi," which translates to "new." Like the colonials who named their settlements New York, New Jersey, etc. in tribute to the home they left for a new beginning, this might also have been the case for Novi.

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Home of the Novi Special

Novi, Michigan

Water tower commemorating the legendary 1948
  No. 54 Novi Special.

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The Novi became an Indy icon without ever winning the Indianapolis 500.

In 1938 Indy implimented international Grand Prix rules permitting displacements of 4.5L naturally aspirated or 3.0L supercharged engines. Brothers Ed and Bud Winfield, makers of racing carburetors, wanted to build an Indy car for the new formula. Lewis Welch of Novi, Michigna, who made Ford parts and rebuilt Ford engines, sponsored them.

Welch wanted a V8, and asked that it be named after his home town of Novi. In 1940 a 3.0L supercharged Novi engine was designed by Leo Goosen, America's only full-time racing engine designer. It was built in legendary racing engine builder Fred Offenhauser's shop.

Almost miraculously, the Novi engine was ready for the 1941 race. It was rated at 450 horsepower when a typical Offenhauser had 300 hp. The front-drive Novi was always heavy, thirsty and hard on tires. It qualified in 28th place at 120.5 mph. Ralph Hepburn finished 4th in the race without any trouble. 

When racing resumed after WW II in 1945, Welch had Goosen design a new front transaxle that allowed lower engine mounting. Frank Kurtis produced a new chassis and a low, sleek body, and the car, not just the engine, was now called the Novi. Hepburn qualified for the 1946 Indy 500 in the Novi Governor Special at 134.2 mph. No car had ever done more than 131 mph. 

Despite being placed 19th on the grid because of late qualifying, the Novi was thought to be a sure winner. Hepburn led the pack by lap 12, but brake problems caused a long pit stop on lap 56 and he dropped to 13th position. He fought his way back up to 4th place, but a broken valve knocked him out of the race on lap 122.

The two Novi Governor Mobile Specials qualified in 1947. One broke a piston on Lap 62, and the other finished fourth. 

Tragedy struck in 1948, when one of the Novi Grooved Piston Specials hit the wall in qualifying, killing Hepburn, thereafter branding the Novi as jinxed. Dennis (Duke) Nalon took over and qualified fastest at 131.7 mph. Nalon drove well, but could only finish third because of a refuelling glitch. It would be the Novi's best finish. 

In 1949 Nalon qualified first and Rex Mays second but the jinx struck again when Mays' engine failed and Nalon hit the wall during the race. The Novis failed to qualify in 1950 but were back for 1951, when Nalon broke all records, gaining the pole at 136.7 mph. Chet Miller's Novi also qualified but neither of the cars finished. 

Nalon and Miller returned in 1952, with Miller stunning Indy with a fastest-ever 139.1 mph qualifier. However bad luck struck again with both Novis breaking their supercharger driveshafts during the race. As a result, stronger supercharger drives were installed and the inter coolers removed on both cars for the next season. 

Miller was killed in 1953 when he hit a wall while attempting to qualify at 140 mph. This took the heart out of the team. Nalon qualified, but he was never a contender, and spun out on lap 191. This would be the last race for a front-drive car at Indy as the Novis failed to qualify in both 1954 and 1955.  

For 1956, the Novi engines were fitted to a Kurtis rear- drive chassis. New rules in 1957 reduced displacement to 2.7L. Many modifications were tried, but in 1961, after 20 years of attempting to win at Indy, Lou Welch sold the Novi assets to Andy Granatelli of Studebaker's Paxton supercharger and STP additive divisions. 

Granatelli and his crew squeezed more than 700 hp out of the Novi but still failed to win. In 1964 Granatelli switched from front to four-wheel drive which proved inconclusive - and moot. The advent of new, stickier tires and the change to rear-engined cars made four-wheel drive unnecessary.

The Novis did not finish in 1964 or '65, and failed to qualify in 1966, ending the exciting but ill-fated Novi's odyssey that had promised so much but delivered so little.



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Vintage 1950s Stroh's Beer bottle cap

Vintage 1950s Stroh's Beer bottle cap.

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A brief corporate history of Stroh's:

- Bernard Bernhardt Stroh 1850-1882 Lion Brewing Co.

- B. Stroh Brewing Co. 1882-1902

- The Stroh Brewery Co. 1902-1919

- Brewery operations shut down by Prohibition in 1920 and operated as The Stroh Products Co. 1920-1933

- The Stroh Brewery Co. 1933-2000

- Purchased and operated Goebel Brewing Co. 1964-1985

- Purchased by Pabst and dissolved in 2000



Canvas wrap 16"h x 16" w x 1 1/4 deep.
Finished back, with wall bumpers and ready to hang.

Other sizes available:
20x20
24x24
30x30
36x36


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Vintage 1940 Goebel Beer bottle cap

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Goebel Brewing Co. was established in 1873 in Detroit, Michigan. Production expanded after prohibition and in 1946 they purchased the Grand Rapids Brewing Company in Muskegon and operated it from 1946-1957. Goebel purchased the Detroit brewery Koppitz-Melchers in 1947 and operated it until 1958.

In an attempt to expand westward, the Golden West Brewery in Oakland, California was purchased in 1950. Success was artificially supported by the Korean War and west coast operations ceased in 1955, ending the quest to become a national brand. The Stroh Brewery Co. in Detroit bought the brand in 1964, and was itself later purchased by Pabst.

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Canvas wrap 16"h x 16" w x 1 1/4 deep.
Finished back, with wall bumpers and ready to hang.

Other sizes available:
20x20
24x24
30x30
36x36

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Vintage 1940s Pfeiffer bottle cap

Vintage 1940s Pfeiffer's Beer bottle cap

featuring Johnny Fifer.

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Pfeiffer Brewing Co. was founded by Conrad Pfeiffer in 1889 and operated continuously in Detroit (with the exception of Prohibition) until 1968. In the 1954 Pfeiffer acquired the Jacob Schmidt Brewing Company of St. Paul, Minnesota. The Flint plant was closed in 1958, but in an attempt to become a regional brand Pfeiffer purchased the E&B Brewing Company including its brands Weidemann and Frankenmuth and renamed itself Associated Brewery Co. in 1962.


Further mergers aquisitions included Drewerys in South Bend, Indiana and Chicago; Sterling in Evansville, Indiana; and Piel with plants in New York and Massachusetts. Associated was headquartered in Detroit and Pfeiffer Beer was still brewed there along with such old favorites as Frankenmuth, Schmidt and North Star. Pfeiffer was also brewed in St. Paul, Minnestoa during this time,
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Because of its growing debt and an increase in state excise tax from $1.25 / bbl to $6.61 / bbl, Associated found it was cheaper to brew in Indiana and closed the Detroit Pfeiffer brewery in 1966.


Associated Brewing continued producing Pfeiffer Beer until 1972 when it sold all its brands to other brewers. The former Pfeiffer Brewing Company was renamed the Armada Corporation (the name hinting at its former dominance in the market place) and it remains in business to this day as a holdings company in the Penobscot building in Detroit.

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Canvas wrap 16"h x 16" w x 1 1/4 deep.
Finished back, with wall bumpers and ready to hang.

Other sizes available:
20x20
24x24
30x30
36x36



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Vernor's Ginger Ale - Deliciously Different!

Vintage 1950s-60S Vernor's Ginger Ale bottle cap.

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According to legend, before James Vernor left Detroit to serve in the Civil War, he stored some of his experimental ginger ale in an oak cask. When he returned four years later, he opened the cask and found that the drink had been changed by the aging process, tasting even better than it had before. He declared the ginger ale to be “Deliciously Different,” which became one of the many slogans for the drink such as "Flavor Aged" and "Aged in Wood."



Canvas wrap 16"h x 16" w x 1 1/4 deep.
Finished back with wall bumpers, ready to hang.

Other sizes available:
20x20
24x24
30x30
36x36

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Better Made Sign - 16x16 Canvas

Home of Better Made Potato Chips

Gratiot Ave., Detroit

(I have no idea what "Guest Quality" means.)

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On August 1, 1930 Cross Moceri and Peter Cipriano started the the Cross and Peters Co. Their goal was to make a better potato chip, hence the name Better Made.

Canvas wrap 16"h x 16" w x 1 1/4 deep.
Finished back with wall bumpers, ready to hang.

(Red Border is wrapped on the sides of the canvas.)

Other sizes available:
20x20
24x24
30x30
36x36


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The Eyrie @ Depot Town, Ypsilanti, Michigan

The Eyrie

50 East Cross Street

​Ypsilanti, Michigan 48198

I'm proud to announce that my work is now available at  The Eyrie, just west of the Eastern Michigan University campus in Ypsilanti's historic Depot Town. Janette Rook's new shop features local and Michigan-made artwork and accessories, as well as unique home decor, seasonal potted plants and garden treats. 

Read more about Janette's new venture in The Eastern Echo, the student-run newspaper and website of Eastern Michigan University.

Tue-Sat: 11AM - 7PM

Sun: 11AM - 4PM

Mon: Closed

  info@theeyrie.net

  734-340-9286

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1960s Faygo Bottle Cap - 16x16 canvas

Another in the bottle cap series on 16x16 canvas.

1950s - 60s Faygo Bottle Cap

According to the Faygo web site, this shield logo style dates to the 1940s and was used into the 1960s.

Canvas wrap 16"h x 16" w x 1 1/4 deep.
Finished back with wall bumpers, ready to hang.

Other sizes available:
20x20
24x24
30x30
36x36

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Faygo - A Detroit Original

 Vintage 1950s Faygo Orange bottle cap.

Second in the Bottle Caps on Canvas series.

Canvas wrap 16"h x 16" w x 1 1/4 deep.

Finished back with wall bumpers, ready to hang.

Other sizes available:
20x20
24x24
30x30
36x36

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According to the Faygo web site, this logo style dates to the 1930s and was used into the 1950s.

Russian bakers Ben and Perry Feigenson founded Faygo in 1907. The original Faygo pop flavors were based on their own cake frosting recipes.

A building abutting a liquor store in Detroit burned to the ground recently and revealed this Faygo sign which dates from the 1950s or possibly the 1940s.


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New Photo Series and format

The James Vernor Co. was sold in 1966 to an investment group ending a century of family ownership. Hence, this cork-lined bottle cap predates that event, most likely the mid to late 1950s.

To compliment my series of vintage Detroit signs and brands, a new series of vintage bottle caps from genuine Detroit beverages debuts with this vintage Vernor's bottle cap.

This series is available on 16" x 16" 1 1/4" thick stretched canvas wraps. They are ideal for decorating your office, den, rec room or "man cave" to celebrate Detroit and its unique commercial heritage.

Other sizes available:
20x20
24x24
30x30
36x36

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This vintage sign dates to the mid to late 1950s and displays the same logo type as the bottle cap above. It was revealed after demolition of a building adjoining what is now Westland Lawn & Snow Equipment.

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Lawrence St. Gallery EXPOSURES: Photography '13 - First Place

April 3 - 26,  2013

Opening Reception: Friday, April 5, 2013 6pm - 9pm  
Awards Presentation 7:30pm

 
This is the fifth consecutive year I've been invited to show in this exhibition. These two detail studies of the massive iron drive wheels and steel rods on the Pere Marquette 1225 steam locomotive from my "Iron, Steel, & Steam" series are on display. 
 

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 First Place Award

Iron, Steel, and Steam No.1

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Iron, Steel, and Steam No.2

 

The juror for the 17th annual exhibition is Bruce Giffin who built his career working as a staff photographer at the Metro Times and teaching photography at Macomb Community College. In 2011 Giffin was chosen for a Kresge Artist Fellowship.

Gallery Hours:
Wed & Sat, Noon to 5 pm
Thurs & Fri, Noon to 9 pm

22620 Woodward Ave.
Ferndale, Michigan

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Awrey Bakery sold, brand saved

On the side of an Awrey semi-trailer
The trailer was gone shortly after this photo was taken.
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 This little-noticed sign on the the north wall of the Awrey building has seen better days. It is unknown if it will be repaired,  removed or replaced by the new owners.

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In the fall of 2012, facing seemingly insurmountable financial trouble, Awrey Bakeries said it would lay off most of its 200 employees unless a buyer could be found for the 103-year-old company by mid-February.

As hopes for finding a buyer dimmed, the company discontinued retail bakery operations and began dismantling equipment which was to be sold at an auction scheduled for February 20th. On February 19th, in what was literally a last-minute reprieve, privately-held Minnie Marie Bakers of the Midland-Bay City, Michigan area came forward with a purchase offer just eight minutes before the final sale deadline.

New CEO Jim McColgan said owner Ron Beebe will change the Livonia bakery's name to Minnie Marie Bakers, Inc., but will "keep the Awrey brand name alive." McColgan also said they intend to rehire more than 150 laid off workers and reopen the 218,000 square foot facility within thirty days.

Sales and marketing director John Awrey, who is a member of the founding family, said he is “pleased that the new owner will preserve the Awrey’s brand and tradition of fine products."

"They know Michigan is a good place to do business and will expand our focus to develop a local supply chain of farmers, millers and producers of Michigan-grown wheat, soybeans, sugar and other ingredients," Awrey said.

When the bakery reopened on March 11th, about 50 former employees had been returned to work. McColgan said the number of workers they can rehire will depend on sales.


Read more about Awrey in this previous post.


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Packard Motor Car Co. Entrance

Packard Motor Car Co. Main Entrance

East Grand Blvd., Detroit - c.2004

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On August 2, 2008 this historic doorway was sold for $161,000 by RM Auctions at the Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance. A week or so after the photo below was taken, the entire entry facade was removed and shipped to America's Packard Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

The other doorway on the Grand Blvd. side was rescued by Packard Motor Car Foundation founding member Richard Kughn at the same auction for $92,000. It will be preserved by the foundation and is securely stored at the Packard Proving Grounds in Shelby Twp., Michigan.

Can't or don't want to travel all the way to Dayton, Ohio to see this historic automotive artifact?

Here's a nearly life-size 5-foot wide replica of the Packard door lintel that you can own and display in your office, den or garage!

Signed, 20" high x 60" wide x 1 1/4" deep canvas wrap.

A "must have" for any Packard owner or enthusiast !

Area outside of red rectangle is wrapped around sides.

NOTE: These canvases are printed as they are ordered, so please allow up to 3 weeks for free delivery.

Order yours here

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Pere Marquette 1225 can be YOURS for a day

Pere Marquette 1225

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 The re-build of PM 1225 can be completed by mid-year 2013 if the necessary funds are raised. To that end, Steam Railroading Institue is offering 10 private, four-hour  excursions on the complete train with Pere Marquette 1225 and crew, on the day of your choice* after the PM 1225 is back in service until March 2014.

This is a unique opportunity for you and up to 300 of your closest friends, your family or school reunion, company outing, wedding party, or other special occasion for an exclusive ride on this historic train to from Owosso to Clare with no one else aboard.

Remember, these 10 private excursions are available on a first come, first served basis. Call Terry Bush at 989-725-9464 for further details, questions, or inquiries.


*Unless it is scheduled for other excursion service or maintenance.  

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Packard Plant - Detroit

 Main Entrance

Packard Motor Co. - Detroit, Michigan

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On August 2, 2008 the main entrance to the Detroit Packard plant on E. Grand Blvd. was sold for $161,000 by RM Auctions at the Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance. A week or so after this photo was taken the entire entrance facade was removed and shipped to America's Packard Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

Because there is no mention of this on their web site, and I have been unable to substantiate it otherwise, I have asked APM for confirmation that this is indeed in their possession. They have not replied. I have, however, found this  photo of the Packard lintel taken at America's Packard Museum in 2012.


The other doorway on the Grand Blvd. side was rescued by Packard Motor Car Foundation founding member Richard Kughn at the same auction for $92,000. It will be preserved by the at the Packard Proving Grounds property in Shelby Twp., Michigan.


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Now Showing at Great Lakes Market Place - Holly, Michigan

I'm pleased to announce that my work is now available at the Great Lakes Market Place, 110 S Saginaw St. in Holly, Michigan. Owned by John LaCroix, the marketplace features a variety of Michigan-made artwork and specialty food products, baked goods, wines, and more. Have cup of your favorite coffee, or a scoop of delicious Guernsey ice cream while you browse the unique artwork created by local artists!

Keep up with what's new on the Great Lakes Market Place Facebook Page.

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