Michigan Bell and Western Electric Warehouse

Michigan Bell and Western Electric Warehouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	882 Oakman Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates:	42°24′9″N 83°6′48″W / 42.4025°N 83.11333°W / 42.4025; -83.11333Coordinates: 42°24′9″N 83°6′48″W / 42.4025°N 83.11333°W / 42.4025; -83.11333
Built:	1929
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	09001069[1]
Added to NRHP:	December 8, 2009

The Michigan Bell and Western Electric Warehouse is a former commercial warehouse building located at 882 Oakman Boulevard (also numbered as 14300 Woodrow Wilson)^[2] in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.^[1] It is now known as the Neighborhood Service Organization.

History

This structure was built in 1929-30 as a warehouse, garage, and office space for Western Electric.^[2] Western Electric used the building as its Michigan headquarters until 1958. The next year, the Yellow Pages operation moved into the building, and it was used by Michigan Bell until 1999.^[2]

For some years until the mid-1980s, the building was notable for its "Weather-Phone" sign, under the Yellow Pages logo. This translucent white plastic sign, modeled after the Western Electric model 500 desk telephone, was backlit with lights of different colors, providing a basic weather forecast to motorists on the Lodge Freeway at night. A red telephone meant warmer weather was forecast in the next 24 hours, blue meant cooler, and yellow, no change in temperature. The lighting would blink when precipitation was expected, whereas a steady light meant neither rain nor snow was expected.

In late 2009, a mixed-use renovation is planned for the structure, combining the administrative offices and services of the Neighborhood Service Organization with housing for the homeless.^[3] Total investment is expected to be $50,000,000.^[3]

See also

• Urban development in Detroit

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-12-07. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Idlewild's Role in Michigan's, Country's Heritage Recognized with Nomination to National Register of Historic Places" from the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL), Sept 22 2009.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Bell Building set for renovation," Staff report, 11/29/2009, The Michigan Citizen.

External links

• Neighborhood Service Organization of Michigan - Official website