The detroit news brings you stories of the colorful history of detroit and michigan, in words and photos. Hudson company, was a retail department store chain based in detroit, michigan. Unfortunately, the rotundaburned down in 1962, ending a nineyear christmas tradition. The history of department stores american department stores. How many remember a trip downtown to the hudson s flagship store in detroit. In 1954, hudson merged with nashkelvinator to form american motors corporation amc. How would you describe hudsons department store detroit. Hauser has written other history books, and he specializes in retail history. The grand dame of detroit retailing images of america hauser, michael, weldon, marianne on.
Detroit s legendary department store by michael hauser and marianne weldon 2004, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. The book brothers, who had already made their mark on detroit s skyline with the book building, book tower, and book cadillac hotel, sought to further cement their legacy by building a grand monument. How many remember a trip downtown to the hudsons flagship store in detroit. Hudson s flagship store, on woodward avenue in downtown detroit demolished october 24, 1998, was the tallest department store in the world in 1961, and, at one time, claimed to be the secondlargest department store, after macy s, in the united states, by square footage. Hudsons dept store michigan michigan, detroit history. Hudson s department store earned a permanent place in detroit s collective memory. National buildingdetroit historydepartment store willis. Oct 27, 2004 a very good book about an important retail store that unfrotunately met it s demise due to the circumstances of being located in detroit. Both are well worth the expense if you have great memories of old detroit. Hudson is proud to be the airports leading bookseller, and now you can shop us any place, any time.
Im putting together a video on the history and restoration of this instrument. Located on the detroit river, the hudson offers loftstyle living and pristine views into canada. Hudson company redefined the way detroiters shopped and enjoyed leisure time. Hudson company, generally known as hudsons, was a large retail department store chain that originated in detroit. Yes, its a book of photographs, but it still counts as a book. The store prided itself on stocking everything from grand. The narrator notes detroit s proximity to canada, role as a busy port, industries both automotive and nonautomotive, rank as the fourth largest financial center, and colleges and universities.
Hudson motor cars with a spotlight on the 1936 hudson cars roy chapin had worked with ransom olds, the first man to use an assembly line to build cars. Had hudson s been in new york city, or any other major city, i beleive hudson s could have been bigger than macy s and infact we might have seen hudson s murge with macy s. Hudsons broke ground in 1891, ultimately undergoing 12 expansions, with final additions in 1946 extending the store over an entire city block. As part of a recent agreement approved by city council, bedrocks overall residential portfolio will be 20% affordable, including existing units that will be renovated and preserved as affordable for the next 30 years. Hudsons was the epitome of style and class in a department store.
The hotel offered 1200 guest rooms and some of the most amazing spaces in the city. The arcadia book on hudsons states that there was a piano and musical instrument department located on the th floor of the detroit headquarters. A very good book about an important retail store that unfrotunately met it s demise due to the circumstances of being located in detroit. The detroit riot of 1967 made many shoppers afraid to come downtown. Hudson company department store, and become inspired by santa claus example to deliver gifts to their neighbors. A book to buy for yourself and also to give as a gift. Conot had a gift for exploring large themes through the. Sep, 2017 bedrock unveils plans for a 52 story building at hudson s site. Latest hudsons site renderings show tower rising higher into detroit s skyline.
Hudsons department store on woodward avenue was more than just a storeit was a detroit icon and a worldclass cultural treasure. Detroit, the largest city in the state of michigan, was settled in 1701 by french colonists. Hudsons department store on woodward avenue was more than just a storeit was a detroit icon and a. It was apparently purchased by the hamtramck school system as their name is nicely engraved on the bell of the horn. The hudson motor car company was founded by auto pioneers howard coffin, george w. It is the first european settlement above tidewater in north america. Combine the first 6 dressing ingredients and stir to dissolve the sugar. The three biggest department stores in the mid1960s, both in sales volume and physical size, were macy s, hudson s, and marshall field, in that order. It was the largest store in the world, and dominated detroits merchant district along woodward avenue.
In 1960 the downtown store hired its first african american bus girl, a high school student named diana ross who would later make musical history. Hudson s in detroit, second largest department store in sales volume in the 1960s. Founded as a new france fur trading post, it began to expand during the 19th century with british and american settlement around the great lakes. Anyone who shopped in detroits once bustling downtown woodward corridor should have this book. The grand ballroom at the book cadillac hotel in downtown detroit. Detailed history and photographs of detroit s long abandoned book cadillac hotel. Hudson company hudsons department store portraits portrait of j. It is guaranteed to bring back memories and also educate you with things you never knew about this historic store. Whatever happens next will be without precedent because the context of city no longer applies in this place where history has finally run out. Shop detroit, mi postcard created by andersondesigngroup.
Long abandoned in february 1997, it faced demolition. Hudson department store in downtown detroit once anchored a mighty commercial district. No other corporation, anywhere on earth, at any time in history. History and historic stories of detroit and michigan. In 1881, he opened his first store on the ground floor of the old detroit opera house on campus martius. May 20, 2019 bedrock broke ground on what will be michigan s tallest building at the site of the former hudson s department store in the heart of downtown detroit on woodward ave. Easily one of the most successful businessmen in the city s history, hudson also was a benefactor. Featuring ceilinglength windows and cuttingedge design, come check it out today. And why exclude hudsons eastland, which followed in 1957. Originally a clothing store for men and boys, it was first located in the old detroit opera house building.
Jan 24, 2011 if you couldnt find an item at hudsons, it probably didnt exist. Hudson dusted himself off and moved to detroit to start over. Hudsons department store earned a permanent place in detroits collective memory. Bedrock is committed to delivering affordable housing in greater downtown detroit. National buildingdetroit historydepartment storewillis. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Mar 21, 2017 hauser and marianne weldon cowrote the 2004 arcadia publishing photo history book, hudsons. The big stores the three biggest department stores in the mid1960s, both in sales volume and physical size, were macys, hudson s, and marshall field, in that order. This may be my favorite book in the images of america series yet. The arcadia book on hudson s states that there was a piano and musical instrument department located on the th floor of the detroit headquarters. Detroits legendary department store mi images of america. Hudsons, downtown detroits legendary department store, the parade first rolled down woodward avenue in 1924, the same year that macys began its parade in new york city. Detroit s legendary department store mi images of america used book in good condition one of the highlights of christmas time was going downtown detroit to see santa at hudson s christmas wonderland. Most holy trinity roman catholic church old photos.
The colony of connecticut had, from 1632, laid claim to a 120mile stretch of ohio territory, which came to be known as the connecticut western reserve. Hudsons book shop, detroit, michigan the mitten state, thanks mom, my roots. Although the big store no longer graces woodward avenue, its legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of generations, and in the remarkable photographs that preserve its reign. But as the city of detroit began to suffer from the economic downturns of the 1970s and 1980s, so did hudsons. Detroits legendary department store by michael hauser. All of curbed detroit s coverage on the development of the old hudson s site in downtown detroit. The hudson motor car company made hudson and other brand automobiles in detroit, michigan, u. There are no duplications in the photos of these two companion books. Shop refreshes design for hudsons detroit skyscraper. Easily one of the most successful businessmen in the citys history, hudson also was a benefactor. Hudson s building, the book cadillac hotel became the largest abandoned building downtown. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. At 25 stories, it was the world s tallest department store, and was at one time home to.
Dec 14, 2017 it was seminal moment in downtown detroit s restoration when dan gilbert led a ceremony to kick off construction of a new tower on the former site of hudson s department store, a vacant reminder. Hudsons book shop, detroit, michigan vintage michigan. Combine the ham, turkey, cheese and pickles together in a large bowl. The story concerns a young boy and girl who visit the toy department of the j.
Detroits legendary department store and the 2010 arcadia book remembering hudsons. Chapin, and largely funded by departmentstore owner joseph l. It was the most magnificent store to see with all the fabulous decorations and lights. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Many detroiters share memories of times spent shopping and enjoying. I was in the detroit area when they imploded the massive downtown hudson s structure, but i had no idea then the sheer scope of the retail and architectural history that went down that day. I enjoyed reading this one which i had bought for my mother because she used to shop at downtown hudson s and loved it, because my hudson s. Bedrock broke ground on what will be michigans tallest building at the site of the former hudson s department store in the heart of downtown detroit on woodward ave. Jl hudsons department store the metropolitan detroit. A less certain fate awaits the book building and the david broderick tower whose towers flank hudson s. As a legendary symbol of urban and entrepreneurial american history, the j.
Detroit s drink vernors gingerale history 101 with davinci the detroit dog retro random ads, photos and oddities. The thanksgiving parade has been a holiday tradition in detroit for more than 80 years. He would serve as chairman and organizer of detroits associated charities, which laid the foundation for the united way foundation. Mar 16, 2000 in 1966 a hudsons clerk was murdered in the store. Numerous books, articles, and motor city resident testimonials have recorded the history of this grand dame emporium. Cosmetics department of hudsons department store, downtown detroit. The display included an enormous christmas tree, a miniature circus, story book land and a santas workshop complete with elves and a miniaturetoycar assembly line. The downtown hudson s store once a proud giant among department stores has withered in size and profit margin during the last 30 years as detroit has declined in population and wealth. Hudson s, shown here, had 25 stories, 16 of them selling floors.
I was not old enough to really recall the early 60s but the late 60s i was one of the kids going to see santa. Residents share memories of macys and hudsons in wake. Store i believe in the 1960s i would like to find some photos of him, if anyone has any ideas as to. Remembering hudsons does a fine job of saluting the downtown treasure, but whats confounding is a final chapter devoted to hudsons northland, which opened in 1954.
Joseph lowthian hudson, the store thrived during the record growth of detroit and the. Rare sightings are only the 5th and 6th great whites encountered during the 45year history of vims shark longline survey and are likely related to unusually cool waters. Hudsons flagship store, on woodward avenue in downtown detroit, was the tallest department store in the world in 1961, and, at one time, claimed to be the secondlargest department store, after macys, in the united states, by square footage. Detroit s legendary department store by michael hauser and marianne weldon 2004, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Like no other retailer, hudsons went all out for the holidays. Joseph lowthian hudson, 35 years old at the time, founded the company in 1881. Hudson company, was a retail department store chain based in detroit. In 1962, the business boasted two, one milliondollar sales days. At 25 stories, it was the worlds tallest department store, and was at one time home to the most exceptional offerings in shopping, dining, services, and entertainment. Detroit s legendary department store images of america. Hudsons, downtown detroit s legendary department store, the parade first rolled down woodward avenue in 1924, the same year that macys began its parade in new york city. Skyscraper at detroit s hudson s site may be taller than expected duration. Shop architects plans for hudson s detroit site move forward.
The hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was discontinued. Hudson s department store on woodward avenue was more than just a store it was a detroit icon and a worldclass cultural treasure. The downtown stores water bill was more than the total of hudsons 15 other stores. Two of its four belowground floors were basement stores, where 60 departments did up to 25% of the store s business.
Detroit metropolitan airport other hudson group stores creative kidstuff. The book is filled with pictures and facts about our famous hudsons in downtown detroit. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Stacks of books are displayed on a table in the right foreground, and include copies of the, tom swift series. Hudson s department store became the heart of detroit for decades before it was imploded. Hudson s department store on woodward avenue was more than just a storeit was a detroit icon and a worldclass cultural treasure. He would serve as chairman and organizer of detroit s associated charities, which laid the foundation for the united way foundation. The booklet includes background information about detroit s history and attractions, the downtown and northland center hudson s locations, the construction of eastland center, and hudson s departments and events like the fair internationale, the thanksgiving day parade, the import department and the associated. Oct 29, 2018 latest hudsons site renderings show tower rising higher into detroits skyline.