Mellus Newspapers Building

United States historic place


Mellus Newspapers Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Former site of building
42°15′6″N 83°10′31″W / 42.25167°N 83.17528°W / 42.25167; -83.17528
Area	less than one acre
Built	1941
Architectural style	Moderne
NRHP reference No.	05000716^[1]
Added to NRHP	July 20, 2005

The Mellus Newspapers Building was a commercial building at 1661 Fort Street in Lincoln Park, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005,^[1] and demolished in 2010.^[2]

History

In 1933, William S. Mellus founded the Lincoln Parker, a newspaper serving the city of Lincoln Park.^[2] As the population of Lincoln Park grew, Mellus eventually needed more space, and in 1941 he constructed this building on Fort Street.^[2] Mellus also published newspapers for other downriver communities: The Allen Parker, Ecorse Advertiser, Southgate Sentinel, Taylor Tribune and Riverview Sentinel.^[3] In the 1950s, a two-story addition was constructed in the rear of the building, enlarging the space to 4,080 square feet (379 m²).^[4] Mellus also expanded operations into the next-door Pollack Jewellery Building.^[4] Mellus sold his newspaper chain to Panax Corp. in the early 1970s. The company remained in the building until 1986, when it merged with Heritage Newspapers.^[3] The building was sold by the Mellus family in 1994.^[4]

In 2009, the Mellus and the next-door Pollack were purchased by the Lincoln Park Downtown Development Authority for $93,000.^[5] The Mellus Building was demolished in May 2010; a small park is planned for the lot.^[5]

Description

The Mellus Newspapers Building had simple but distinguishing Art Deco characteristics exemplifying the application of these to a small commercial building.^[2] The front facade was covered with white porcelain enamel panels, and the entryway was framed with curved glass block sections. Six steel casement windows faced the front.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Ren Farley. "Mellus Newspaper Building". Detroit1701.org. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Save the Mellus Newspapers Building". Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance. Retrieved July 20, 2010.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ ^a ^b ^c "Historic gem or eyesore? Lincoln Park preservation group seeks developers for Mellus Newspaper building". Hometown History Tours. July 27, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
^ ^a ^b Nate Stemen (May 15, 2010). "LINCOLN PARK: Mellus Newspapers' building demolished; small park planned for site (with video)". The News-Herald.