9/1/2023 0 Comments RandhouseFrom 1933 to 1944, the house was remodeled extensively, being turned into offices and a printing plant for a publishing company. In 1913, he was named Commissioner of Public workers by the mayor. Mercier, who operated a general contracting company and became involved in sewer construction, street paving, and brick manufacturing. The second owner of the house was John A. The Rands family only occupied the home until 1917. While the inside has been remodeled over the years, a Pewabic tile fire place stands where the living room once was. The homes has three chimneys, slate shingles, extensive quoining around the corners and window frames, and it built from limestone. The asymmetrical, two and one-half story house was designed by architect David Spicer. The Rands house is distinct, because unlike many of the Victorian and Arts and Crafts homes in the area, it was built in the Prairie style. However, as cars were overtaking bicycles in popularity, in 1913 he switched the auto parts, opening a company called Motor Products in 1913. In 1985, he left the east coast for Detroit, and won several bicycle races on Belle Isle.Īfter he left racing, Williams became a bicycle dealer, and later founded Wheeler Manufacturing Company, which made bicycle parts. A teenaged Rands was expected to provide for the family- and so he began riding a bicycle to and from work. When he arrived, he lived with his father in Rhode Island, until his father was killed in a street car accident. Williams Rands was born in London in 1872, and came to the U.S. Rands, who began in the bicycle business and then moved into auto-parts manufacturing- supplying parts for cars like Ford’s Model T- had this house constructed in 1913. Also, they’re all listed on the National Register of Historic places. Rands House, the Frederick Linsell House, the Max Jacobs House, and the Herman Strasburg House- have been converted into university use and lovingly restored. Over the years, the homes have served a variety of educational purposes, like classrooms, labs, offices space, and art studios. However, four of those houses survived the wrecking ball. Eventually, WSU acquired several blocks through eminent domain, and began to tear down the old homes to build classrooms and research buildings. As the university expanded, it purchased homes and property in the area around Old Main. Mennen Williams grew up in a home in the neighborhood. For example, Ty Cobb owned a house in that neighborhood, and Michigan governor G. Most of those homes were constructed in the 1920s for Detroit’s growing middle class. Only four homes located in the neighborhood destined to become Wayne State University’s central campus remain standing today. Rands House is one of the four “survivors.”
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