Frederic M. Sibley Lumber Company Office Building | |
Location | 6460 Kercheval Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
---|---|
Coordinates | 42°21′11″N 83°0′49″W / 42.35306°N 83.01361°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1917 |
Architect | Baxter, O'Dell & Halprin |
Architectural style | Classical Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 91000329 [1] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | April 4, 1991 |
Designated MSHS | April 20, 1989 [2] |
The Frederic M. Sibley Lumber Company Office Building is an office building located at 6460 Kercheval Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1989 [2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. [1] The building is known for being the beginning of a major trailer manufacturing company.
Frederic M. Sibley was born in Detroit in late October, 1883. [3] As an adult, he joined his father's lumber company and acted as treasurer until his father's death in 1912, after which he assumed the presidency of the firm. [3] In 1922, the Sibley Lumber Company employed 400 people and was the second largest lumber firm in Detroit. [3]
Sibley married Mabel Bessenger in August 1910. They had five children: Josephine, Frederic Jr., Dorothy, Suzanne, and Joy. [3]
Sibley is also known for his cooperation with August Fruehauf in developing the first semi-trailers to haul lumber. Sibley, approached August Fruehauf, his blacksmith about modifying a wagon to transport an 18' boat. Sibley wanted to use his Model-T roadster rather than a slow moving horse and wagon. August Fruehauf and his partner, Otto Neumann took several days to devise a solution. They removed the back seat of the Model-T to support the front end of the wagon and fashioned a 5th wheel coupling to attach the wagon to the back of the automobile. August called it a semi-trailer. Sibley was impressed with the solution and ordered additional semi-trailers for his lumber company. Henry Ford canceled the warrantee on the modified Model T's. August Fruehauf turned this invention into a goldmine. [4] The Fruehauf Corporation manufactured these trailers for many years afterward. [5]
The Frederic M. Sibley Lumber Company Office Building was constructed in a Neo-Classical style in 1925. [6] The two-story building is red brick, trimmed with limestone, and the legend "F. M. Sibley Lumber Co." is carved in the limestone lintel above the entrance. [6] The façade is divided into eleven bays, each separated by a brick pillar. [5] Rectangular transoms within each bay separate the two stories. [5] Four limestone pilasters with Corinthian capitals surround the entrance, flanked by two vertical recessed lights. [2]
Frederic M. Sibley Lumber Company Office Building | |
Location | 6460 Kercheval Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
---|---|
Coordinates | 42°21′11″N 83°0′49″W / 42.35306°N 83.01361°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1917 |
Architect | Baxter, O'Dell & Halprin |
Architectural style | Classical Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 91000329 [1] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | April 4, 1991 |
Designated MSHS | April 20, 1989 [2] |
The Frederic M. Sibley Lumber Company Office Building is an office building located at 6460 Kercheval Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1989 [2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. [1] The building is known for being the beginning of a major trailer manufacturing company.
Frederic M. Sibley was born in Detroit in late October, 1883. [3] As an adult, he joined his father's lumber company and acted as treasurer until his father's death in 1912, after which he assumed the presidency of the firm. [3] In 1922, the Sibley Lumber Company employed 400 people and was the second largest lumber firm in Detroit. [3]
Sibley married Mabel Bessenger in August 1910. They had five children: Josephine, Frederic Jr., Dorothy, Suzanne, and Joy. [3]
Sibley is also known for his cooperation with August Fruehauf in developing the first semi-trailers to haul lumber. Sibley, approached August Fruehauf, his blacksmith about modifying a wagon to transport an 18' boat. Sibley wanted to use his Model-T roadster rather than a slow moving horse and wagon. August Fruehauf and his partner, Otto Neumann took several days to devise a solution. They removed the back seat of the Model-T to support the front end of the wagon and fashioned a 5th wheel coupling to attach the wagon to the back of the automobile. August called it a semi-trailer. Sibley was impressed with the solution and ordered additional semi-trailers for his lumber company. Henry Ford canceled the warrantee on the modified Model T's. August Fruehauf turned this invention into a goldmine. [4] The Fruehauf Corporation manufactured these trailers for many years afterward. [5]
The Frederic M. Sibley Lumber Company Office Building was constructed in a Neo-Classical style in 1925. [6] The two-story building is red brick, trimmed with limestone, and the legend "F. M. Sibley Lumber Co." is carved in the limestone lintel above the entrance. [6] The façade is divided into eleven bays, each separated by a brick pillar. [5] Rectangular transoms within each bay separate the two stories. [5] Four limestone pilasters with Corinthian capitals surround the entrance, flanked by two vertical recessed lights. [2]