33 Center Street: 1910

Actually telephone lines are symmetrical, so they always are a pair of conductors.

[A lot of early systems used a single conductor with ground return. - Dave]

I like the way that the pediment over the window of the house next door matches the one over the door. Obviously the houses have come down in the world.

Look to be wood, probably soaked in creosote.

I can actually see the Milner and Center street from my window at work right now. No sign of this house.

Thanks for the time-travel-moment, Shorpy.

I can hear them banging all night long!

[Try leaving Mr. Shutter a note. - Dave]

And a tip of the Hatlo Hat to the Old Hitching Post.

That's a telephone drop. Single-wire conductors with a ground return. Power lines would be two conductors widely separated.

Just curious if the pole is actually an electric power drop.The insulators appear to be quite large. This area is in the general area where Edison Electric Illuminating was supplying DC power in the very early part of the 1900's.

Maybe the entry to No. 33 is at the end of that narrow passageway and that is unusual enough to be both noteworthy and photoworthy.

The Milner Hotel now occupies the spot where this building once stood. According to the 1910 Polk City Directory, the building at the right, 31 Center Street, was occupied by one Henry M. Catton. The building at the left was the Central Apartments at 35-41. 33 Center was the "Central Annex" and you can see that there is a connection between the Annex and the larger Central Apartments. Perhaps one of the residents of the Annex gained notoriety, prompting the photograph of their residence?

[My guess would be that whatever historical significance this place has lies back in the 19th century. A Google Books search shows that 33 Centre Street was headquarters of the Detroit Woman's Christian Association in 1890. There may have been some connection with the temperance movement. - Dave]

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