The April 10, 2014 Urban Exploration with Dex Davison "What Happen To The Brodhead Armory? Part 1" R. Thornton Brodhead Naval Armory/ Marine Corps Reserve Center/ Detroit Naval Armory 7600 East Jefferson at the northwest boundary of Gabriel Richard Park Captain Brodhead, in the late 1920s, convinced the Michigan state legislature to build a naval armory along Detroit's waterfront. They appropriated the funds and the attractive, if highly functional, building you see now was completed in 1930. It has elements of both classical and Art Deco stylingwith gray limestone sheathing. The entrance way is quite elaborately decorated with symbols of the various military services engaged in naval activities using Pewabic tiles. How should artists and crafts people be supported? Our schools are filed with talented people seeking to be creative, but artists fail to become financially successful. Should we depend upon the market place to support the arts and crafts, or depend upon rich patrons? What about the government as a source of support? After 1933, the Roosevelt Administration realized that deficit spending might prime the economic pump, so an elaborate Works Project Administration funded building activities in many cities. That administration also supported a Federal Artist Project to support the creative arts. Captain Brodhead realized that these federal funds would allow for the decoration of the Armory that bears his name. And thus, this building is one of the most unusual and impressive buildings of its type. It reflects the creativity of many Detroit artists who otherwise would have been unemployed. You will find extensive woodworking, including doors, carvings and fireplace embellishments done by John Tabaczuk. There are several paintings of naval vessels by Edgar Yeager (1883-1969). Elaborate murals were painted in four rooms, including a 60 foot mural with naval themes painted by David Fredenthal. This building has a collection of murals ranking second in Detroit to the Detroit Institute of Arts. There are quite a few plaster wall carving representing nautical themes done by Gustave Hildebrand. This is an unusual example of how federal tax dollars were spent to support the fine arts during the Depression decad The building was used by the U. S. Navy for training reserve naval and marine units until after 2000. I believe that ownership was subsequently transfered to the City of Detroit but, as of 2012, no firm plans developed to reuse this building. It has a significant history and an architectural appeal. Jean Harlow, the popular movie star of the 1920s, attended the dedication presumably as a guest of one of the Fisher brothers who may have been courting her at the time. Joe Louis, at age 17, fought his first fight in this building in the winter of 1931-1932. He was still involved in the Golden Gloves competition so I presume that he was not paid to figure. A Detroit professional who was four years his senior, Johnny Miler, defeated him soundly in the three round bout. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt brought his campaign for the presidency to Detroit in the fall of 1932, he used this building for a rally. All videos are none profit. All videos for educational purposes only!

Comments

1. The insides look like crap, Saw photos years ago when it was beautiful. I remember the two submarines docked behind their. The one I went on was SS CERO.
2. Did you know they used to be 2 submarines stationed there in the late 50's. I used to live across Jefferson on Baldwin before the hospital took the houses and the street went to Jefferson. I have an old photo of one of the subs at the park next to the armory. If interested find me on Facebook
3. Thanks brother
4. Thanks for the video.
5. If the site is considered historic they should have left the anchor out front. At any rate, after serving a tour of active duty in Washington DC (really it was Alexandria, VA - The barracks I stayed in was Bolling Air Force Base, DC 73'-75'). Brodhead is where I did my reserve Naval duty one weekend out of every month from 1975-78. Those open doors where classrooms. There were also two basketball goals on both ends of the drill floor. We even had teams. Out of all the full court basketball games I played as a youth, Brodhead was the first and only place I ever scored 20 points in a game at age 22. Ah what memories. Sad to see it in such a state of disrepair.
6. lmao
7. This kinds brings back memories of some of the old buildings at Selfridge that are still standing and some gone
8. Thank you for the video, and for serving our country. I salute you.
9. I haven't been back to Brodhead since 2004, but I did spend 6 years there so I'll try to remember the best I can. 
   
   Looks like you started in the old motor pool.  You're correct that the vault that you went into was the armory.  When you go upstairs and come to the room with a sauna, that was the gym.  Unfortunately, it wasn't that much nicer back then.
   
   Then you head out to the drill deck.  The room under where the ceiling was caved in used to have vending machines and a few couches and chairs. The offices around the drill deck belonged to officers and senior staff ncos.
   
   Too bad what has become of the place.