National Register of Historic Places

Warren-Prentis Historic District

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Listed
December 1, 1997
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
97001477

About this property

The Warren–Prentis Historic District is a historic district in Detroit, Michigan, including the east–west streets of Prentis, Forest, Hancock, and the south side of Warren, running from Woodward Avenue on the east to Third Avenue on the west. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The district includes residential, commercial, institutional, religious and other buildings, and the majority of the pre-1930s building stock remains. 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 and the Great Depression. The area declined during the Depression, as the larger single-family homes became too costly to keep up. These homes were divided into rental units, and the area was fully utilized during the boom years of World War II. The area again began declining after the war, but in the 1990s signs of revival have been evident, as the nearby Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center draw people to the area. William C. Boydell House (4614 Cass Avenue, at Prentis) Central High School (Old Main) (4841 Cass Avenue, at Hancock)

Location

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
42.35486, -83.06700

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTSOCIAL HISTORYARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Wayne State University Buildings
Listed
0 mi
Thompson Home
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hunter, Mulford T., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Loomer, George W., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
McAdow, Perry, House
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Pontiac's War – Battle of Bloody Run July 31 1763
1763Colonial
1.2 mi
Battle of Bloody Run (Pontiac's War, 1763)
1763Colonial
1.3 mi
Pontiac's War — Battle of Bloody Run
1763Colonial
1.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Warren-Prentis Historic District listed on the National Register?

Warren-Prentis Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 1, 1997.

What type of historic resource is Warren-Prentis Historic District?

Warren-Prentis Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Warren-Prentis Historic District?

The period of significance for Warren-Prentis Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Warren-Prentis Historic District?

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