Grinnell Brothers Music House

The Grinnell Brothers Music House was Pontiac's home of Michigan's leading music store for over one-half a century. This fact establishes the building's local significance In music and commerce. In addition, the character of the owner was transmitted to the architectural quality of the building's facade. The building was built in 1923, displaying a Gothic Revival facade, unique in Pontiac. Brothers Clayton A. and Ira L. Grinnell began a music business In Ann Arbor, Michigan In 1880. The company moved to Detroit In 1882 and began manufacturing pianos In 1901. They soon became one of Michigan's largest piano and general music dealers. A third brother, Albert A. Grinnell joined the company as second vice-president In 1910. With Its headquarters In Detroit, the Grinnell Brothers opened retail outlets In other large Michigan cities. Grinnell's operated a store In Pontiac at another location as early as 1904. After a fire demolished that building, this one was constructed at 27 South Saginaw Street. This structure contained the business operation of Grinnell's for over 50 years, totaling a continuation of business operations for over 70 years. The architect, Leo John Heenan (1890-1957), studied architecture at the University of Michigan and worked for Detroit architects, Albert Kahn; Smith, Hinchman and Grylls; and Bishoff Associates, Inc. For these architects, he was responsible for facilities designed for the Motor Truck Company, Gray's Motor Company plant and the Samson Motor Truck Company. In 1914 he established his own firm In Pontiac and was the architect for the Strand Theatre, St. Joseph's Hospital at Mount Clemens, Pontiac City Hall and Public Safety Building, Pontiac General Hospital, Addah Shelley Branch Library, the Oakland County Infirmary, and a number of public schools. He also built many local residences including those for T. F. McManus, E. P. Waldren, and C. B. Wilson. The only alteration to the building's original design is the main entrance and adjacent glazing at the first floor and the removal of an original canopy. Both of these changes are eminently restorable. Other than that, the resource retains all of Its original significant design. Because of the dominance of the stone gothic detailing on the facade, alterations detract little from the building's architectural significance. Because of the carved name "Grinnell Bros. Music House" in the stone facade above the first floor storefront level and because of a strong local relationship to the Grinnell Company, the building retains sufficient Integrity to convey Its history during the time It served as a significant local business In Pontiac. No other buildings exist In the city which have a similar association. Also, this is the only 20th century Gothic Revival building In the downtown commercial area.

Grinnell's reputation as a retail outlet for music was echoed In the architectural quality of its facilities. The result In the Pontiac store Is an outstanding example of the use of the Gothic Revival influence on an early 20th-century commercial building. This Is a small three-story building with a two-story stone-trimmed storefront and a Gothic detailed stone facade above. This building Is located at the south end of a commercial block on South Saginaw Street between East Pike and Water Street. Older commercial buildings (mostly vacant), flank It on the north but the adjacent corner store to the south has been razed as a part of a downtown renewal effort. Likewise, the opposite side of Saginaw Street Is completely void of buildings, ai I having been demolished In the same renewal effort. The entrance faces west and a rear door opens onto the alley at the east. This commercial retail store offered musical instruments, recordings and sheet music to the public as a quality business operation of long standing in the Detroit area. Twentieth century Gothic Revival In style, the building Is 20' in width by 140' In length, three stories plus basement in height, rectangular in plan and has a flat roof. It Is constructed fireproof with steel frame and concrete floors. The south wall, presently exposed because of demolition of the corner building, Is vulnerable to the elements as It was never designed to be an exterior wall. Designed entirely of stone, the facade Is highly detailed with decorative elements. The upper facade is divided into three bays by decorative pilasters and the side pilasters contain niches at the parapet level. The three panels between the pilasters at the parapet have a tracery design In relief on the store surface. At the third floor the window openings at the side bays have multi-light wood casement units with transoms and the window opening In the center bay Is a single light of glass with a multi-paned transom. The storefront opening fills almost the entire width of the building, is two stories In height and Is framed with decorative stone molding. Although presently covered with an Inappropriate plywood sign the second floor portion of the storefront consisting of a large display window is Intact. The lower portion of the storefront Is the only part of the facade which has been altered. The Interior original layout which still exists at the present time, Is primarily open in nature at all floor levels. The exception on the first floor is an office enclosed with a wood and glass partition and an enclosed cashier's window at the rear. The front portion of the second floor Is enclosed with a similar wood and glass partition. Apparently the nature of the business operation did not require extensive architectural treatment on the interior. What little that can be found exists in the wood detailing of the wood and glass partitions which skillfully repeats design Idioms from the exterior stone facade. The only other detail of note Is the stair railing which is in keeping with the remainder of the architecture. General Interior surfaces and finishes Include flat plaster walls and ceilings, subdivided by wood coffered beams with a simple cove molding at the ceiling. Floors are terrazzo at the first floor level and wood at the second floor. The building interior is essentially unaltered with the exception of some redecoration evident when the building was used for festivities surrounding the 1981 Superbowl which took place at Pontiac's Silverdome stadium.