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

A Allmendinger Organ Factory CONTINUED

Mr. Carroll Benz, a local real estate agent, purchased them around 1935 and
remodeled various spaces for rent. In 1947 Benz moved his own real estate
office into one of the buildings and for almost 40 years this complex was
known simply as the "Benz Building," despite the fact that Benz sold the buildings to the University of Michigan in 1969. The University housed several
research institutes here until budget cuts in the recession of the 1980s forced
the sale of the buildings in 1984. The purchaser, William Martin, with the
expertise of Architects 4, completely renovated the building, replacing original
windows and creating a modern entry for the 1895 structure.
Except for these changes, the exterior remains much as it was at the height of
its days as an organ factory, a time when 5,000 organs and 600 pianos a year
were produced and shipped to every state in the Union and to England,
Scotland, Australia, the West Indies, and South Africa. These simple brick
structures, imposing in size, remain a fine example of utilitarian factory design,
reminding us of the days when workers lived in nearby neighborhoods and
walked to and from work. In the new lobby, a visitor will find an original
Allmendinger Organ and display panels telling the story of the factory, its
owner, and the organs he built.

206-222 South First Street - text on next Dacre

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