Historic buildings, Ann Arbor, Michigan / by Marjorie Reade and Susan Wineberg.

219-221 East Washington Street
Weinmann Block I
Circa 1867, 1892 Weinmann Block
Just after the Civil War Michael Weinmann and John Gall were able to build
the elaborate brick building at 221 East Washington to house their lucrative
meat market and their families. Only two stories high, it nevertheless made a
strong architectural statement with its fancy bracketed cornice, oculus window
under the pediment, and shuttered windows. Originally numbered as 31 East
Washington, this building continued to serve as the Weinmann Meat Market
until 1892, when the owners were prosperous enough to build an even fancier
building just to the west (219 East Washington). Decorative pressed sheet
metal storefronts were an innovation of the late nineteenth century - an inexpensive and practical way to simulate cast iron or stone pillars and carved decoration. Only a few survive in the entire state of Michigan. When building
their new addition, the owners were careful to carry the cornice line over from
their older building.
The Weinmann Meat Market occupied the new building after 1892 and the
older building was leased to other businesses. The butcher shop, known in its
later years as the Weinmann-Geisendorfer Meat Market, survived until 1937.
Known for the best frankfurters in town, it was a popular stop for high school
students on their way to school.
In 1937 another venerable Ann Arbor institution took over the space. This was
the Jno C. Fischer Company, a hardware store whose antecedents could also
be traced back to the 1860s. "Fischer Hardware" remained until 1982, when
the buildings were purchased by real estate developer Peter T. Allen. Allen
immediately began to restore the buildings to their 1890s appearance. The
cornice was rebuilt, windows were unblocked, shutters replaced and the storefronts redone to emphasize the differences between the two structures
(changes made in the 1960s had attempted to obliterate this distinction).
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