The Warren–Prentis Historic District is a historic district in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

, including the east–west streets of Prentis, Forest, Hancock, and the south side of Warren, running from

Woodward Avenue A woodward is a warden of a wood. Woodward may also refer to: Places ;United States * Woodward, Iowa * Woodward, Oklahoma * Woodward, Pennsylvania, a census-designated place * Woodward Avenue, a street in Tallahassee, Florida, which bisects th ...

on the east to Third Avenue on the west. The district was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1997. The district includes residential, commercial, institutional, religious and other buildings, and the majority of the pre-1930s building stock remains.Warren–Prentis Historic District
from the city of Detroit.

History

The land included in the Warren–Prentis Historic District was originally the Park Lots, the Cass Farm, and the Jones/Crane Farm; these parcels were subdivided in the late 19th century. Due in part to the large lot sizes and the streetcar lines along Woodward and Third, the district became popular with upper-class Detroit businessmen and professionals moving away from downtown. A number of these citizens moved into the area in the period between 1880 and 1895, commissioning residences. In the late 1880s, apartment living became more popular, and the construction of duplexes and small apartments increased while the construction of single-family homes dropped off. Commercial development in the area increased in the early 20th century, peaking in the years between

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and the Great Depression. The area declined during the Depression, as the larger single-family homes became too costly to keep up.Warren–Prentis Historic District
from Detroit1701.org These homes were divided into rental units, and the area was fully utilized during the boom years of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. The area again began declining after the war, but in the 1990s signs of revival have been evident, as the nearby

Wayne State University Wayne State University (WSU) is a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. It is Michigan's third-largest university. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 350 programs to nearly 25,000 ...

and the

Detroit Medical Center The Detroit Medical Center (DMC) is a for-profit alliance of hospitals that encompasses over 2,000 licensed beds, 3,000 affiliated physicians and over 12,000 employees. Located in Midtown Detroit, the DMC is affiliated with medical schools from Wa ...

draw people to the area.

Structures

There are 108 individual historic structures in the Warren–Prentis Historic District. These include some buildings of individual historical significance: *

Perry McAdow House The Perry McAdow House is a Renaissance Revival house located at 4605 Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. History Clar ...

(4605 Cass Avenue, at Prentis) *

William C. Boydell House The William C. Boydell House is a double house located at 4614 Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. History William C. Boydell was born in 1849 in Staffordshire, England. ...

(4614 Cass Avenue, at Prentis) * Thompson Home (4756 Cass Avenue, at Hancock) * George W. Loomer House (71 W. Hancock Avenue) * Mulford T. Hunter House (77 W. Hancock Avenue) *

Mackenzie House Mackenzie House is a historic building and museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that was the last home of William Lyon Mackenzie, the city's first mayor. It is now a museum operated by the City of Toronto's Museum and Heritage Services. History The ...

(4735 Cass Avenue) *

Hilberry Theatre The Hilberry Theatre was a 534-seat auditorium located at 4743 Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. Created in 1963, the Hilberry served as the theatre space for approximately 40-50 graduate students pursuing degrees in theatre fields at the ...

(4743 Cass Avenue, at Hancock) * Central High School (Old Main) (4841 Cass Avenue, at Hancock)

Gallery

Image:PrentisStreet.jpg, Prentis Street between Second and Cass, showing single-family homes and small apartments Image:Warren-Prentis2.jpg, Apartments on Second and Forest in the Warren–Prentis Historic District Image:ThompsonHome.jpg, Thompson Home Image:Hilberry Theatre WSU - Detroit Michigan.jpg,

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warren-Prentis Historic District Historic districts in Detroit Midtown Detroit Neighborhoods in Detroit Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan National Register of Historic Places in Detroit