The six-story, Gordon W. Lloyd-designed Parker Block, built in 1884 for Thomas A. Parker, stood on the southwest corner of Woodward Avenue and State Street for over a century. It originally housed a jeweler and import shop, but for generations of Detroiters, particularly the ladies, it was known as B. Sigel Company. Founded by Benjamin Siegel in 1881, the company moved into the Parker Block in 1904. B. Siegel grew into one of the country's largest women's department store chains, ultimately expanding to 8 locations throughout Detroit. Unfortunately, like many once-prosperous retailers downtown, B. Siegel Company experienced an economical downturn in the 1980s, going bankrupt several times. Adding insult to injury, main store was forced to close after water pipe failure in January of 1985. An attempt to revive the chain failed. Tragedy befell the Parker Block on February 22, 1990, when it was destroyed by fire. It was demolished a few days later. It was the last cast-iron structure in the city. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that if the fire had happened decades later, it probably would've been an attempt to salvage at least the facade, if not the entire building. But, we're talking about the early 90s - not exactly banner years for preservation in Detroit. #Detroit #DowntownDetroit #LowerWoodwardHistorictDistrict #CastIronArchitecture #VictorianArchitecture #GordonWLloyd #WoodwardAvenue #archi_ologie #BrickStory #RawDetroit #PureMichigan #PureMittigan #MotorCityShooters #PureDetroit313 #DepictTheD #VisitDetroit #Michiganders #ThisPlaceMatters #ThisPlaceMattersDetroit #MichiganPlacesMatter #SavingPlaces #LostDetroit (at Lower Woodward Avenue Historic District) https://www.instagram.com/p/CW2B4nLL5Wu/?utm_medium=tumblr