In recent months, as the work on the El Moore has come to completion and the building has opened to both residents and visitors, I’ve thought a lot about our friend A.C. Varney, the building’s architect. I can’t help but wonder what he would think of the place if he were able to see it today. …
Well, apparently, a bit more than we thought. In an earlier post, we introduced readers to Charles W. Moore, the person who, for $24,000, funded the construction of the El Moore apartments in 1898. After a bit more research, we discovered that there were, in fact, two Charles W. Moores who lived in Detroit during that …
As we’ve mentioned in earlier posts, the El Moore was designed in 1898 by local architect Almon Clother Varney. Besides being an authority on gracious living in late 19th century Detroit (see Our Homes and Their Adornments , 1883), Varney was a prolific architect. His creations, which included apartment buildings, factories and offices, hotels and private residences, …
When work began on the El Moore, we were intrigued by the discovery that the builder had run parallel lines, gas and electric, for some of the lighting fixtures. Why both? What was going on back then? Of course, we had to learn more! We know that the 1880’s and 1890’s were a period of transition …
Continuing our journey into the history of the El Moore, here is a snapshot of Detroit in 1898, the birthday year of the El Moore! Demographics: In 1898, immigrants were continuing to come to Detroit in large numbers, just as they had been doing throughout the 19th century. In the last decade of the …
As with many streets in towns and cities across the country, Alexandrine Street, where the El Moore is located, takes its name from a prominent citizen of the city’s past. Alexandrine Macomb Sheldon was born in Detroit in 1829, a descendant of the Macomb family, one of the founding families and land owners of …
Recently, America said goodbye to radio icon Casey Kasem, longtime host of “American Top 40.” (Maybe some of our younger readers will recognize him as the voice of “Shaggy” on the Scooby Doo cartoons.) What’s the connection to the El Moore, you ask? As with the Green Garage, part of the research we’ve done on …
