Mary's Detroit Photoblog: Old Stables on Belle Isle, Day and Night

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Old Stables on Belle Isle, Day and Night

The architecture of the building on Belle Isle is wonderful, but
unfortunately, many of the buildings are being left to disintegrate
slowly. Very sad. Click images to view larger.

Other cool (beautiful) shots by another photographer here and here.

13 comments:

Janet said...: Beautiful old buildings, and I bet they are historic!; January 29, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Anonymous said...: Yes, amazing beauty! Shame many are in shambles ... I always thought 'cottages' were small, they aren't common here.; January 29, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Marie said...: C'est trop beau, Mary! Very beautiful photos.; January 29, 2008 at 3:47 PM
BerryBird said...: Those are stables? They look like a castle, so beautiful. You probably said already, but who manages Belle Isle?; January 29, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Jim Klenke said...: they look very nice. maybe before they past the point of no return someone will decide to fix them up.; January 29, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Erin said...: How nice. I think I prefer the night one, but I'm wavering. :-); January 29, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Mary Stebbins Taitt said...: They are historical, Rambling Round.

And yes, some of the old buildings have been renovated and repaired. But not these yet. And some have been bulldozed away.

The City of Detroit runs Belle Isle, it's a city park. I believe I read somewhere the the Huron-Clinton Metroparks are now also helping, but I can't find the reference to that so I don't know if it's true. Detroit is not a wealthy city and with all the trouble in the auto industry, it is getting less wealthy by the day.

And thank you all!; January 30, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Anonymous said...: When I was in junior high in Detroit in the late 1950s, my sister, some friends and I used to rent horses for an hour at Belle Isle on Saturdays. I'd had about two hours instruction at camp so of course was unprepared when "Mickey," realizing who was really in charge, began to roll over with me on his back! Luckily I jumped off in time, and I did know how to remount. While I will never forget that incident, I must admit I did not remember the stables being so picturesque. I can only visualize them from the inside.; January 30, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Mary Stebbins Taitt said...: Yikes! That's scary! You could have been hurt! Glad you weren't!

I'm not even 100% sure that these are stables (or were!)! I was told they were, but I'm not from the area, so I can't guarantee the information is correct.; January 31, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Mary Stebbins Taitt said...: I prolly should research it, but I don't really have time.; January 31, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Mary Stebbins Taitt said...: I've been doing some research on this, even though I can't really afford the time, and I found THIS out:

Old Riding Stable:
The Victorian riding stable was located across from the Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse.

The building was the scene of an accident several years ago where a car crashed into it and the ensuing fire left it heavily damaged at the site. The City of Detroit slated the building for demolition on May 1st, 2003, but with the intervention of the Friends of Belle Isle and several other people, Greenfield Village came to the rescue and the structure was carefully taken apart piece-by-piece in efforts to save it.

The building was originally constructed in 1863 as an open-air vegetable market, part of the Cadillac Square Market, and was located at Bates and Randolph Streets in downtown Detroit. It was later moved to the Eastern Market as part of the Gratiot Market.

Later, it was moved to Belle Isle, the sides were bricked up, and it was converted into a horse stable. Greenfield Village will restore the original market building on their site in Dearborn.

I saw this site. If it was the ONLY riding stable than what I have pictured wasn't one. But now I've read 50 different articles and still have;t locate anything.; January 31, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Mary Stebbins Taitt said...: 1894: Riding stables are built. Fire destroys Detroit Boat Club. Pony ride concession opens.

I keep finding conflicting info.; January 31, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Mary Stebbins Taitt said...: I haven't been able to stop trying to find out about the stables. But I did find some other pictures of the same building labeled as stables by another person I don't know. I don't know if that means it's true, but I've wasted too much time already trying to find out.; January 31, 2008 at 11:53 AM