National Register of Historic Places

West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Listed
December 12, 2002
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
02001501

About this property

The West Vernor–Lawndale Historic District is a two-block commercial historic district located along West Vernor Highway between Cabot and Ferris Streets in Detroit, Michigan. The district includes 30 acres (120,000 m2) and 10 buildings. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This area around West Vernor Highway was settled by German immigrants in the 1870s, and became a small farming community. By the early 1900s, the farms began to be platted into subdivisions. A few commercial buildings were constructed during this time, but commercial development in the district rapidly increased in the 1920s after the completion of the nearby Ford River Rouge Complex and the subsequent expansion of the nearby residential districts. Most of the buildings within the district date to this time. Development ceased during the Great Depression. Afterward, the area remained economically viable into the 1960s when the effects of the citywide population loss and disinvestment became apparent. However, the Vernor/Lawndale District retains a diverse mixture of ethnic groups, with the original German immigrants making way for a primarily African-American and Latino population. 8547-8605 West Vernor, 1925. A two-story brick building with two storefronts below and residential apartments above. 8617-19 West Vernor, 1925. A two-story brick building with storefronts below and residential apartments above. 8623-27 West Vernor, 1916. A two-story Commercial brick building with storefronts below and residential apartments above. 8633 West Vernor, 1925. A two-story brick building with storefronts below and residential apartments above. 8634-40 West Vernor, (Weisburg Building) 1926. A large three-story Georgian Revival brick building which originally had three storefronts below and 18 apartments above. 8701-11 West Vernor, (Odd Fellows Hall) 1917. An Adamesque two-story brick structure, designed by Fred Swirsky, with a storefront below and public hall space upstairs. 8710 West Vernor, (People's State Bank) 1919. A Neoclassical single-story temple front brick commercial building. 8715-41 West Vernor, (Ferndale Apartments) 1923. A large three-story Georgian Revival brick building built in an H shape, with storefronts below, and apartments on the two upper levels. This building contains the Detroit Public Library Campbell branch. 8734-36 West Vernor, 1915. A two-story brick building with storefronts below and residential apartments above. 8740-48 West Vernor (Cabot Apartments), 1926. A three-story Georgian Revival brick building with flat roof capped with stone. Apartments are located above street level storefronts.

Location

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
42.30928, -83.13255

Categories

ARCHITECTURECOMMERCE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District

This page lists West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

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
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
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
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

West Vernor-Springwells Historic District
Modern
0.4 mi
Garfield, James A., School
Industrial
1.2 mi
Ford River Rouge Complex
Listed
1.6 mi
West Vernor-Junction Historic District
Modern
1.7 mi
Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch
Industrial
1.8 mi

Nearby Battles

Surrender of Fort Detroit
1812Early Republic
4.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District listed on the National Register?

West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 2002.

What type of historic resource is West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District?

West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District?

The period of significance for West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Wayne County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Wayne County.

Explore WayneCounty ›

More historic places in Michigan

Browse all historic places in Michigan.

View Michiganhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Michigan history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Michiganhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report