The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922; / Clarence M. Burton, editor-in-chief, William Stocking, associate editor, Gordon K. Miller, associated editor. [Vol. 2]

CITY OF DETROIT

1499

The track ran down Michigan Avenue and the station was on the southerly side
of that avenue. The railroad buildings were on the south side of Michigan
Avenue and the repair shops were on the Woodward Avenue side nearer Fort
Street.
The railroad, as a state institution, was a failure and the state disposed of it
to the Michigan Central Railroad Company in 1847. Between that date and
1849 the railroad tracks were taken up and diverted to the foot of Third Street.
In 1853, the state executed a lease to John Ladue for eight years, from February 1, 1853, of that part of the lot lying north of "the Yellow State Building."
This lease included all of the old buildings that had formerly been occupied by
the Michigan Central Railroad. John Ladue subsequently assigned this lease
to Andrew Ladue and Francis E. Eldred. There was a fire in these old buildings in 1859, of which the following is an account taken from the Free Press
of June 16 of that year.
"Fire-A fire was discovered, between nine and ten o'clock last evening,
bursting from the roof of the old wooden building at the corner of Michigan
Avenue and Griswold Street, known as the old railroad depot. When first discovered the fire appeared to be in the garrets of two tin shops situated at about
the middle of the building. It is a one-story frame building, about one hundred
feet in length, divided by frame partitions into seven shops. These were occupied as follows: commencing at the east end,.J. Sabine, saddlery and harness
shop; R. J. Foster, business not ascertained; William Sales, tin shop; N. McCarran, tin shop; Thomas Rawson, fruit stand and saloon; Jacob Wien, boots and
shoes, and F. F. Eglinton, saloon. The stocks of all excepting the last named
were removed with more or less damage.
"They were all small dealers, and of course the losses were not heavy. Mr.
Sales was insured in the Atlantic of Providence (A. G. Noyes, agent) for $400;
and Mr. McCarran in the Roger Williams of Providence (B. B. Noyes, agent),
for $750.
"This will probably cover their loss. There was insurance on some of the
other stocks, but we were unable to learn particulars.
"The building was owned by Mr. F. E. Eldred and was insured, but for what
amount or in what companies we could not learn. The eastern half of it was
pretty much destroyed. Mr. Eldred will also suffer some loss from the removal
of his own stock of leather and findings in the adjoining building on the east.
He is fully insured.
"The origin of the fire is a mystery. The building was partially destroyed a
year or two ago by a similar mysterious fire, originating in the garret."
The business of R. J. Foster was stated in the Tribune to be that of a "Fruit
and Fowl Store."
In 1856 the state conveyed the land to the city for $18,816.66. Then began
the agitation for the erection of the city hall.
In 1859 proceedings were taken in the Recorder's Court to vacate the west
part of the campus in order to enlarge the lot sufficiently to allow for the erection
of the city hall.
Some of the people who lived in the neighborhood did not want the city hall
erected and a suit was begun in 1860 by Guy F. Hinchman and others to restrain
the city from building.
The mayor of the city was the late Christian H. Buhl and the resolution of
the council alleged as a reason for vacating the campus that it "has always re