Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Detroit's Hotel Pontchartrain

The July 28, 2008 Shorpy blog had a circa 1916 photo of Detroit's Cadillac Square and the Hotel Pontchartrain as viewed from City Hall. They also ran a similar picture from 1907. By the 1916 picture, a huge mansard roof had been added. Built in 1907, it was torn down in 1920 to make way for a bank. Wow, only 13 years. Too bad because it was an impressive structure.

There was also a Hotel Pontchartrain in New Orleans. There is currently the Riverside Hotel in Detroit which evidently is sometimes called the Hotel Pontchartrain as well.

The hotel was designed by famed architect George B. Mason.

The new hotel sits on the exact site of the first European settlement in Detroit, called Fort Pontchartrain which later became known as Fort Detroit.

The Hotel Pontchartrain in New Orleans is still there and known for its Mile High Pie. It did suffer some damage during Hurricane Katrina.

Guess I Can't Stay There Anymore. --Cooter

No comments: