Guest Editorial: Building on Hamtramck’s past …

By Greg Kowalski
I had a chance meeting recently with Will Mundel, one of the owners of the new Florian East Lagers & Ales brewery opening soon on Jos. Campau. He gave me a tour of the building, which is undergoing major renovations.
It looks wonderful, truly a major improvement. But what really attracted my attention was the prominent patches of floral wallpaper that adorn sporadic areas of the walls. They are not subtle, but they are certainly eye-catching.
And historical.
Most of the buildings on Jos. Campau were built in the 1920s and have undergone some degree of remodeling through the years with mixed results.
Some of the work done was quite impressive but, sadly, many of the upgrades were not upgrades at all, but rather sloppy patching jobs. Wonderful examples of fine brick and stone craftsmanship were stripped off, covered with cheap siding or bricked over.
Decorative ceilings were hidden under layers of dropped ceiling panels. No thought was given to the historical nature of the buildings.
But with the latest round of renovations we have noticed that some long-hidden architectural treasures are being revealed and brought back to show off their former glory.
A lot of attention lately has been given to the Michigan Central train station on Michigan Avenue in Detroit that has been restored beautifully by the Ford Motor Co.
Thousands of people have been lining up to tour the magnificent building. People appreciate the effort and expense Ford accepted in bringing that building back to life. They see that what was once a symbolic tombstone for Detroit is now a monument to the promise of the future.
Of course, we don’t have anything on that scale in Hamtramck, but each time a tin ceiling or decorative wall decoration is salvaged it is a reflection that Hamtramck recognizes and appreciates the story of its past.
You’ll get a better sense of that when Florian East Lagers & Ales opens and you can go in and see for yourself.
And please let the owners know that their efforts to preserve this jewel from Hamtramck’s past is appreciated.

(Greg Kowalski is the Executive Director of the Hamtramck Historical Museum, located at 9525 Jos. Campau.)
Posted Aug. 9, 2024