The Story of The Penobscot Building - Detroit Icons
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- The Penobscot Building has been an essential part of Detroit's Financial District ever since its construction in 1928. It immediately became the city's tallest building while housing some of its most important clients. So it was an obvious choice to cover for the series I'm launching. This video covers the history of all 3 Penobscot Buildings and how they got their names. #detroit #detroithistory #michiganhistory #detroiticons
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My great grandfather was killed while constructing this building, so needless to say my family has a deep connection to the Penobscot and Detroit. Thanks for the video!
Yeah I get why you’d have that connection. I knew at least two people died during construction so I imagine one of them must’ve been your grandfather. Glad you liked the video!
how old are you?i'm 13 my great grandfather actually went to illinois during the roaring 20's
@@batanghardinero1539 im 16 and I'm here first generation.
@@JHPhotography *Are you allowed to enter the building to take photographs? Good show.*
I'm sorry for your loss and I appreciate his work and constructing this building
My grandfather opened a restaurant in the original Penobscot building in 1905 called The Penobscot Inn. It was in business till 1914. His name was James Arthur Fitzgerald. He went on to open another six restaurants within the city during his career.
That’s so cool! Always love hearing stories like this
Legendary grandfather
All the Penobscot buildings are beautiful. One of the silver linings of Detroit’s hard times is that the city largely avoided the scaring of its cityscape by horrendous glass and concrete office boxes. Detroit has some truly excellent architecture.
We just discovered Detroit and love the city and its magnificent architecture. On the other hand our hearts ache for what was and is no more. Such a sad story of a great city.,
I was the last person to get the neon working before it was replaced with LED 😁
I live in Windsor, and the Penobscot is my favourite part of the Detroit skyline. My username comes from sitting along the shore in Windsor, and taking in the view of the skyline and river traffic.
I remember in the mid-sixties they still had elevator operators in the Penobscot. Me and a friend thought it would be cool to see the city from the top floor so we went in, walked up to an elevator and when the operator asked us what floor. We replied "Top!". He didn't let us in. LOL!
That's because,the highest floor accessible by elevator is the 42nd,and the roof is technically the 47th(as I learned on a"Preservation Wayne" downtown Detroit Skyscraper tour)so anybody wanting to see the city,the river and Canada from 565 feet up in the OPEN-air,must HIKE up FIVE flights of stairs!! Also,not a "glass box"like they have in Atlanta,Charlotte and Dallas,the Penobscot consists of THIRTY floors of mahogany granite and 17 floors of Indiana limestone!! There's nothing like seeing southeast Michigan and South Windsor from nearly 600 feet up,in the OPEN-air!! And that red beacon atop the antenna,is HUGE when viewed from the ROOF!!
Detroit has always been one of my favorite cities and I have always been criticized for loving Detroit. Most of my family and friends have felt that I needed some psychiatric help for listing Detroit as one of my favorite cities. All they think of is the violent crime, widespread urban decay, shuttered old factories, and its corrupt politics. I ignore them because I know that there are a large number of beautiful and positive aspects to Detroit. The Motor City is an awesome treasure chest of beautiful old architecture and has one of the most beautiful skylines in the country. I am hoping that Detroit can finally turn things around for the better and that it’s downtown and midtown areas will continue to revitalize and re energize the city.
it helps that we have a really good Mayor now in Mike Duggin. He's not political either and really cares about the city. A fresh view/voice can really turn things around fast.
Ask your family and friends what is their favorite city and it wouldn't compare to Detroit. I know, being born and raised there, living now in Indiana. Detroit is not run down all over. Has many nice neighborhoods mainly on the west side. Detroit will always be the car capital and the rock and roll capital of the nation and great sports town. There's plenty to see like Henry Ford museum which house the very Lincoln open top limo that JFK was killed in. Detroit has alot of history;
first city to have traffic lights, paved streets, square deep dish pizza, ice cream floats, Vernon's pop, and Strohs beer. Many new projects are happening in downtown as a skyscraper is going up where Hudsons stood at. If you get the crime down and redo the run down areas, Detroit will be nice as it was before the 1970s. Far as I'm concerned, people should get their heads examined for being ignorant of going just by what they see online or on the news instead of checking out cities themselves!
I agree with you a 100% Most of people have the attention span of a goat. They hear, they repeat without doing the slightest research. Detroit's architecture bones are amongst the best in the country. Most of people if the visited downtown Detroit nowadays, will not even believe that is Detroit. I think, the leaders of the city have to keep focusing in the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods so the city can keep growing organically and become more and more attractive. If the city can keep investment flowing, and continue making the city more attractive and at the same time, manage affordability, Detroit can come back fast. A lot of people are fleeing the high cost coastal cities, Detroit just needs to capitalize on it. Detroit needs to keep pushing for momentum, keep their positive marketing campaigns popping left and right. @@detroit8v715
I live in Detroit and did not know this information. Thank you. Great video.
according to the dislikes, 45 people live in the suburbs and have never been to the Penobscot building.
Oh, now there's 46 suburbanites. That's cool. Go back to Utica and New Baltimore.
As a kid I always knew that the Penobscot building, usually in view down Gratiot, could be see from East Detroit. When driving towards it, it usually meant that my late Father, after dropping off my Mother at work at a hospital on Gratiot, was taking me to the ballpark to see the Tigers when they played Sunday Doubleheaders back in the early 60s. What a great Detroit memory!
A few years ago, I was taking some French colleagues on a tour of downtown Detroit, and we walked up to the greater Penobscot to take a look inside. We made friends with the security guards and they gave us a once in a lifetime look at the city skyline from the very top. It was breathtaking, and a memory I won't soon forget. People aren't allowed up there because of radio and microwave transmitters, but it was cool to see the glowing red ball up close.
I snuck into this building with a friend and we took the elevators up. It was a ghost town, but I loved it. Absolutely beautiful from the inside. I don't have the archictectual vocabulary to describe it but it reminded me of the Mackabees building at Wayne State. Detroit has a lot of Art Deco gems
It definitely does! I hope to cover as many of them as I can
update: the elevators don't work and the toilets won't flush, which is no problem as ghosts don't poop and they can move between floors as apparitions.
I WORKED IN THE PEOBSCOT BUILDING IN THE 50S FOR MICH WISC. PIPELINE.. GREAT BEAUTIFUL BUILDING..CAUCAS CLUB WAS ON THE STREET LEVEL AND A MEMORABLE CAFATERIA IN THE BASEMENT..
HELLO ESTER AND THE TWO BOB'S..I OFTEN THINK OF YOU..
I’m so happy you’re doing a story on this building. Ever since I worked in here a few years ago, I have always thought it was the most beautiful building we have downtown. It’s just needs a little love ❤️
Definitely think it's an underrated part of the city! Hopefully it gets the care it needs
Thank you for creating and sharing this video. This building will always be "special" to me. As a child, I was raised by my Great Uncle and Aunt. My Uncle was Vice President of Brownlee Lumber Co, which had offices for many years on the 27th floor. I spent many happy Saturdays of my childhood in that building, answering calls for my Uncle. His Secretary had trained me so I did not sound like a little kid. My job made me feel so grown-up. My Uncle made a point of introducing me to his clients, as "his Saturday Secretary." This video brought back happy memories. I developed my love for unique Architecture from this particular building.
One of my earliest and most profound memories was driving down Grand River with my parents and seeing it’s outline through the distant haze.
I have that same memory.
My late father was the chief electrician at the Penobscot Building from the late 50’s through the early 80’s. In addition to keeping the building’s electrical systems working and working on the regular remodeling of office space for tenants, it was his job for many years to climb the tower and install the green lights that created the Christmas tree at the top of the building. The lights were installed in October before the temperatures became too cold.
Even though he was secured with safety lines , my mother would dread that week all year as she was consumed by worry for him!
Finally, in the mid’70s, building management hired a crew from Walker and Company to install the lights, much to my mother’s relief. 13:05 13:05
Thanks for this post; brought back fond memories, including looking out over Detroit from the observation deck at the base of the tower. It was a perk of being the electrician’s son!
I've been on the(open-air)ROOF of this art-deco masterpiece!! Constructed of THIRTY floors of mahogany granite,and 17 floors of Indiana limestone,it,at completoon was the tallest building in the world OUTside of Manhattan!! 😮
"What An Amazing Tribute To The Man The Family And All The Workers On All Three Projects,Thank You So Much For Your Vision And Human Sacrifice!!!"Long Live The Scot's 3!!!"
In the late 90’s I spent a summer internship working in an office on the 34th floor.
It is truly a beautiful building from a different time. I will always cherish the days I spent there.
I'm working on the Book Tower building downtown. The entire thing is being remodeled. Completion date is about 1.5 - 2 years. But word through the great vine is the Penobscot is up for a remodeling. Don't know which floors don't know if it's the entire thing and I don't know when but I do know it easy up for discussion!
How is the restoration and renovation of the Book Tower coming along because that is a gorgeous iconic old skyscraper.
@@r.pres.4121 it's coming along great! Alot of progress. That building is one of a kind! Absolutely beautiful. They do not make them how they used to the men who once built that building were absolute craftsman its a art that's not very common now a days. Lost art I should say. Still alot of work but progress is coming along. I'm blessed to be apart of restoring something so great!!
I stumbled upon a historical article about when the Book Tower was originally planned. It was originally planned to be 81 floors and over 1000 feet in height. However it was scaled down to its current 44 floors. It was a document from one of the many organizations that study Detroit’s history and development.
I’ve always considered this building to be my favorite in the skyline, mostly because the Empire State is my favorite New York skyscraper and the Penobscot reminds me of it
The Empire State Building's 'H'-design and stepped archetecture was in part inspired by the Penobscot Building.
@ really ?? I didn’t know that! That’s fascinating thank you for the info!
You perfectly explored two of my favorite topics-Detroit history and architectural history! Let me join everyone here in encouraging you to do more here.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for this COMPLETE history of this building . The PENOBSCOT . Its the building I measure ALL OTHER skyscrapers by . My only hope is that it will land in the hands of a firm or company with deep enough pockets and love for this building to bring it back to at least near the stature that it had at its beginnings . UNFORTUNATELY this doesn’t appear to be the case at this present time .
Definitely hope to see it get the care it needs. Would also love to see it be more accessible to the public
Fascinating to hear the story of that building. I worked in the Penobscot for about 5 years, it was beautiful on the inside as well.
My Father worked in that building back in the late 60s for some insurance Company. I've been in there a few times and it is very beautiful.
Love this documentary about a beautiful building in a city that continues to fascinate me, so glad it's still standing, unlike so many of our former majestic buildings in Toronto & Montreal.
Jordan, that was a great mini-documentary. Thank you. Such a beautiful building inside and out. My father was the construction superintendent on the building near it. What is now Chase Tower (but was for National Bank of Detroit NBD. It was built in the 1950's.) Be well.
Since 2016 Christmas, I have visited Oakland once or twice a year until traveling to US became almost impossible. When I was In Oakland, I took a bus to the downtown or midtown of Detroit. Loved to take pictures to find the heritage of Detroit legendary buildings and museum, like DIA or Detroit History Museum. Thanks for nice movie of this wonderful building. This building is in my pictures so often, but never new the story behind. Wish I can be in Michigan for a coming Christmas holiday.
I worked in the building from 2016 to 2018. It was clearly in disrepair at the time but the grandeur of it all helped to hide the problems. There was a donut shop in the lobby that obviously used a microwave to make their food but it was still one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever tasted. I’ve been working from home since 2020 but I still wake up craving those sandwiches sometimes.
I am really happy that the RUclips algorithm recommended your channel to me this morning! I have never been to Detroit, but I find it’s architectural history very interesting. Jordan, thank you so much for your hard work creating this channel.
Detroit is badass you would enjoy it why don't you Google all kinds of things about Detroit where to go what to do the architect is amazing these buildings down there are amazing the courthouse building the old Hudson's building
@@johngraves5495 Punctuation is important to understanding the written word; your comment is not badass, it's just bad, without a few commas and periods added ..... plus it's really easy to do.
However, I do agree with your premise, Detroit never gets the respect it should get, especially the area near downtown.
@@johngraves5495 Never mind,, what Ray said, John. We aren't all crabby, retired teachers. :) Your enthusiasm came through loud and clear. :)
A beautifully tailored production ~M
Great vlog! Greetings from a Norwegian that spent a year in the UP!
Love the casual narrative tone presenting precise and concise historic notes and footnotes about this beautiful landmark. Job well done.
About ten years ago my wife and I visited a law firm in the Penobscot building that was located on a upper floor near the top. We had to switch elevators part way up and to say the second one was unnerving, was a huge understatement! Kind of reminded me of a freight elevator that bounced around and shook. Fortunately they declined our case and we didn't have to go back !
Great video! Detroit is the comeback city!
My father worked in the Penobscot building for NBC from 1955 to 1961.
I hope you've seen the interior of the Fischer building on W. Grand blvd. Amazing.
It's like a shrunken down Empire State Building without its mooring mast, similar to the tall, art deco building in Cincinnati.
Great vid!!! I am from sarnia ont. just around the corner in the great white north..and my dad grew up in detroit so I have always had a love for the city and its people
Glad you liked it! Sarnia is a pretty cool place too!
Please do more buildings in Detroit🙏🏻 This video was amazing and flawlessly executed!!
That was so cool man! My mother-in-law used to work in this building. I've gained a greater appreciation of downtown Detroit while playing (I know...) Pokemon Go. Can't wait until things are a little better (COVID wise) to go back downtown. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the support! No shame in Pokémon Go being the reason you went downtown. I wouldn’t be this invested in Detroit’s history without photography lol
Thank you for posting and detailing this history! I’m from MI and have been in Metro Detroit area for nearly a decade. I love Detroit and your videos help me further understand & appreciate Detroit’s history.
My mom worked in this buildings like 5 floors from the top. Id go to work with her during the summer sometimes when I was young. Ill always remember no screens on the windows... you could just open the window like a house window, but no screen.. just a 40 some floor drop. If you had it open you had to worry about falling out or birds coming in for food.
That was wonderful! I saw Penobscot and immediately thought of Maine (having grown up in New England). I did not know why it would be named Penobscot and now I do. Well done!! The original owner, Simon J Murphy Sr. sounds like an interesting person!
Fantastic video. Very enjoyable. I visited Detroit several years ago and I really enjoyed the city. Detroit has good bones.
Really enjoyed the history, but wanted a look inside also. Beautiful building worked there for a short time and I absolutely loved the decor. Just as the the Fisher Building is a gem so is the Penobscot!
Amazing video! I just moved to Downtown Detroit and have been looking to learn more about it. I'm glad RUclips pointed me here. Instantly subscribed!
Rowan Bixler Is downtown Detroit ready for primetime or does it still have a way to go before it is ready for the masses to move there?
@@653j521 downtown Detroit is actually super nice! The bike infrastructure has improved massively since the pandemic and the parks and everything are beautiful. I would just warn that it’s a different type of city culture than some folks are used to, but if you like cool cars, crazy awesome food, and come in with an open mind it’s definitely ready for primetime!
Cool, thanks for the info.
That was very good!, beautifully done, your narration and pictorials,and the background music excellent groove.
Thanks for this - I grew up in Windsor, and always thought the Penobscot (the tallest one!) was a handsome building.
Thank you for the education. Big plus for me and what caught my attention is the Penobscot name. My great grandfather was a Penobscot Indian so, this has relevance for me. Both my parents are from Maine. Thank you Mr. Murphy for the display of the Great Penobscot tribes name.❤️
My great Grandfather installed the giant globe light on the tower
My mother loved the Penobscot building!
Awesome video! There’s some great Detroit history content out there, but your photo/video sets this apart. Hope to see more!
Thank you so much!! Definitely got more on the way
i used to work in an office next to it ❤️
always had the best view of the architecture from my office level. love Detroit ❤️
Detroit is an architecturally beautiful city that is greatly under appreciated and always maligned because of serious urban problems.
Detroit born 1958 and lived there until 2003. And don't think I ever went inside of the Penobscot Bldg. It certainly is impressive looking. The Fisher Bldg in New Center is a favorite of mine
I love this video man! Great job! I recently helped build "wich which" sandwich shop in the penobscot building and I was in love with the history of the building. I didn't know all this tho! I felt honored to be able to work on a building with so much history! They shot parts of 8 mile in the penobscot! And while I was working up there I got to see them doing shoots for Batman vs Superman! I love Detroit! Proud to be a construction worker in Detroit!
This was very well done and interesting; thank you! I love the architecture of that era and especially the skyscrapers that many cities were building at that time. While I live in Alabama, the Penobscot Building has always been one of my favorites but I never understood the name. Thanks again!
I've admired this building for years, but never knew the backstory. I recently began doing weekly bike rides in downtown Detroit, and love it. Thanks for a great video, and I just subscribed!
Nice work. I look forward to seeing more in the future.
Thanks! I definitely have more planned
Great video, Jordan. Keep posting more on Detroit.
Such a great video, I've watched it a couple of times. Thank you.
I remember when I was a kid in the sixties I could see the Penobscot Bld.from my front porch and I lived in the suburb of Melvindale. I was only a half a mile from the ford river rouge plant the worlds largest plant at the time , it employed 100.000 people at that single factory.
I can tell that lots of time and research went into making this video. Nice Job!
Would love to see your video about the JL Hudson’s store.
Fascinating story! Would love to watch the entire video.
I like the music, perhaps making it more background, enhancing but not distracting.
I look forward to watching in the future.
Wonderful video and so well presented! I've only lived in Detroit now for around Four-Years, but learning more and more about this cities incredible history makes me enjoy it so much more. Can't wait to see what you have in store for the rest of your Detroit Icons series! The Original Hudson Building, Guardian, Book Tower, and I can assume many more.
Thanks for sharing this interesting history.
Really wonderful retrospective and I've watched some of your other posts ( always to the end !) And hope to watch many more!
obsessed with your intro, and i love detroit! so excited for this channel!
Great video! Truly a beautiful building. The Penobscot Building deserves grate "spire" to crown the building rather than the current an less attractive antenna.
Love your subject matter, and the sound of your voice.
Grew up near 24 and Shelby, from top of the terminal moraine that is the entrance to Stony Creek Metropark you had a view to the city. We used to sled there and you could see the light of the Penobscot.
Grew up near 24 and Shelby also. Small world.
Love your videos. Keep it up! Hopefully, the Fisher Building is next!
Thank you so very much for sharing this video.
What a Wonderful Historical Video about the Penobscot Building in Detroit. I was born in Detroit in 1955. And my grandfather Stanley Altschuler. An immigrant from Russia. Opened up a small Advertising agency the Stanley Advertising Agency Incorporated. I think in 1948.
By 1954. My parents had given up there Musical Careers. Mom would teach voice lessons at home. Dad would play in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. And at the Fisher Theater for all of the Broadway shows. And at Motown Studios frequently on the weekends. And at United Sound Systems Studios, on the weekends. Playing his violin for them. For both Motown and Stax Records.
Dad would join my grandpa in the Advertising Agency. For his day job.. The orchestra and everything else at night. Dad was working 2 jobs.
And the Advertising Agency as I recall. Was on the 8th floor of the Penobscot Building. I loved that building. I love going to my dad's office. As a little kid. I found the building, nostalgic to me as a little kid. It was magical. It seemed to me. Everything was still from the 1940s.. And also at the Train Station. Which was just as Magical.. Still decked out in its 1940s to core. I remember. In the 1960s. As a kid growing up.
Dad moved into a nicer bigger, single floor, single building office. Off of West 8 Mile Road. That would inspire me. And to my Career of Audio and Broadcast Engineering. It's all dad's fault. He kept on taking me down to the TV & Radio Stations. And to the Recording Studios. Starting at 7 years of age. I thought that's what he wanted me to do? But no!
My parents wanted me to follow in their footsteps and become a Professional Musician. I didn't want to do that. It was more fun playing with the equipment! And I didn't have to get up in front of an audience of people looking at me. Nobody would see me inside the Radio or TV Station. And that was fine by me. I did not have the same kind of Ego. Necessary. For people to be Live Performers on stage. I didn't need to do that. I could do it from behind the scenes. I didn't need to be Famous. Like they wanted to be.
Today I'm just an, Oldster. With a 22-year-old New Old Motorhome. And loving it. I'm all alone now.
But when I was around, 6 years old. Grandpa died.. And dad moved out of the Penobscot building. I miss it.
RemyRAD
This was a good video. I enjoyed it. Cheers!
Good job, Jordan!!!
Do you have plans to explore the history of the Wurlitzer building or the Book Cadillac hotel?
There are an amazing number of truly exceptional buildings in Detroit. Looking forward to more.
There are quite a lot of buildings that I hope to get to. It’s just a matter of time!
Please do the gorgeous Guardian Building. That is Detroit’s best older skyscraper.
I enjoyed this. Thank you
Art Deco is My favorite style of architecture those aren't just buildings they are sculptures.
My favourite as well. I enjoy the skyscrapers of the Great Lakes more than NYC. Buffalo City Hall is another fantastic Art Deco building.
Haven't found many videos like this. Great job! earned a sub :)
I absolutely loved every second of this video. Keep up the great work! I enjoyed this very much indeed.
Can we get more videos like this of detroit plsss ❗️❗️❗️
More on the way for sure!
Great, informative video. Just a clarification to the point at 11:33, US$5m in 1928 is equivalent to nearly US$80m in 2021 (you can dbl check this using the US Fed's Inflation Calculator).
Good catch, I was going to comment also.
Awesome I love these old architects from Brooklyn and long island I love the old buildings neo gothic ,ones from 1890s to 1919s the beau arts buildings from 1902s- 1930s the art deco buildings from 1927s - 1941s
Excellent video.
You're awesome - thank you 😊 ❤
I live in the metro area and this video is quite the gem. Didn’t know this about something so close
Great video! I have live here my whole life and never knew this detail history! Thanks for the education and insights!
My favorite piece of architecture 😍
Motorola Two-Way radio antennas on tower of Penobscot, I had a chance to work on radios on the building.
This gave me a few days to see the city and building incredible. My contact at the building told me the lights had been lit in years this was probably 70s or 80s. While I was working alone in the penthouse I couldn't resist thronging a large switch marked tower lights, this was during the day when I walked out onto the roof looked up sure enough there on. Went back in and switch them off again. Let me know when there's a condo available.
I enjoyed your work very much. What I am still hopping for are some images of the interior and the tenants who took space there. It is a beautiful tower and no doubt its interior was beautiful as well.
My whole family is from Detroit and we visited every year. I was like 9 or 10, We were riding past one year on a visit and my aunt must have said 10x in a row "Is that the Penobscot Building? Whitney not that one this one, Is that the Penobscot Building?" Being kids and unfamiliar my brother and sister and I thought that was the funniest statement ever. Its still an inside joke to this day!
Great video, thanks!!
I remember the large red globe that would turn off and on for the purpose of alerting aircraft of the presence of the large tower it was a part of and avoid collisions. There used to be a restaurant on the ground floor called the Colonnade and my dad would have breakfast there before walking down to Monroe and Farmer where he took the grates off of the showcase windows of Frontenac Jewelers in preparation for another work day.
When we were kids my Dad would tell us that they held square dances in the ball every Saturday night! :7)
In the 70s i used to go to the raido station " W.D.E.T. " On Saturday nites from midnight to 3 A.M. for the Blues after hours show with the famous coach man and BoBo Jenkins ... miss them days
Great documentary
This video kept my interest even tho I have little interest in the subject. Nice music narration and visual balance.
I can't send money, but thanks for your good work. I'm a huge Art Deco fan. Perhaps a look at Art Deco details, inside and out could be done. 10-15-21.