I was riding my bicycle west on McGraw Street over the weekend. On the right, just past Livernois Avenue, is an active fire station, which is not that unusual to see. However, directly next to that station is a two-story brick building that is no longer in use. I don’t know what this old brick place was used for, but judging from the ornate medallion mounted above the door, it was a city building of some sort. It could have been a police station at onetime, or a small school perhaps.
The vintage building’s windows and doorway are now boarded up and painted on the boards are a variety of colorful murals. The bright paintings found on the plywood window coverings are hand painted headshots of people from an array of ethnic and historic backgrounds. On one of the boards there is a painting of an early settler that could be Detroit’s founder Antonie Cadillac.
Another features a Middle Eastern woman with most of her face covered by a decorative scarf. There is one painting that has the style of early Aztecs or Native Americans. Yet another looks to be a Detroit Tiger baseball player, with a featureless face that could be any player on the team past or present.
I see plenty of painted window coverings on my rides throughout the city. However these six covered windows and single doorway (with decorative arched brickwork) are quite cool. They seem to represent the city’s vast cultural heritage and Detroit’s 300 plus years of history.
the baseball player is actually JDilla who is a rapper/producer who died too young but was influencial in the music scene in the 90s
Thanks for the info on the window covering portrait. I had no idea.
I appreciate it.
Charlie
Hey Charlie! You are correct it was a police station. The 6th precient. Someday I’ll tell the story. I grew up at the next light, Cecil and McGraw .
Hi Angela –
Thanks for the info on the building. Now that you mentioned it, I do remember you telling me that you grew up in that part of the city. Love to hear more about the old building.
Thanks for checking out my blog.
Charlie
Hi! My name is Ed Steele and I can help you solve a few mysteries about that building. I bought it and we are restoring it! It was the old DPD 6th Precinct, built in April 1930 and closed in October 2005. Chock full of history – was attacked by sniper fire in the 1967 riots and was also the Gang Squad Headquarters in the 90’s and 2000’s. Here is a link to a page full of pictures and info – https://www.facebook.com/6thprecinct and http://www.edsteele.com/detroit#CallToAction – Check it out and let me know what you think! I want to find a legit graffiti artist to put up the last three murals on the open spots sometime soon.
Hi Ed –
Thanks for the information on this cool building. Quite a history to the old place. I like that you linked in additional information as well.
I appreciate your comments on this and thanks for checking out my blog.
Charlie