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Detroit, Michigan, circa 1920. "Woodstock Apartments." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
I love this old picture for some reason, maybe because it was from Detroit's better days that are now long gone by. It's interesting how the buildings on either side of the "twins" have been knocked down. Notice the archway between the building still exists in the contemporary picture.
Much has changed in the 90 years since this photo was taken. One of the notable losses would appear to be the American Elms on the boulevard. They likely succumbed to Dutch Elm disease, which reached Detroit in the 1950s, radically altering the streetscape.
I also note the remnants of a "tanglefoot" band on the tree, applied to keep flightless female geometer moths from reaching the canopy to lay eggs and spawn a new generation of ravenous canker worms.
Metal hitching post cast in the shape of a pine branch.
These old photos exude so much class and sophistication that is sadly lost by the time we get to the present. It's amazing that this building has managed to survive Detroit's collapse, although it looks like it's had a pretty rough life. I'm also surprised that it's a pretty dark red brick building. From the B&W photo I expected it to be more of a buff color.
However the neighborhood has changed a wee bit.
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