"Detroit's Original Rock and Roll Palace"

This page was last updated on: July 27, 2010

The "Weitzman Building" September 11,1928 - (see footnotes)

The Weitzman building as it nears completion in September 1928.

Notes:

Far left - Posters in window announcing W.T. Grant Department stores. This was actually a 2 Story business that survived at least until 1944.

Mid Block - Beverly's was to be a dress shop co-owned by the building owner and the architect Charles Agree - see our section on "The Building". The Grande sits at the intersection of Grand River and BEVERLY Court.

Corner  -  Announces the opening of "another economical drugstore"

Grande River Second Story - White banner reads "The First Private dance at This Ballroom

Will be held the opening week by the Geo. F. Monaghan Council K of C"   The Monaghan Council is one of the largest K of Cs in Michigan and now operates out of Livonia. It was founded June 1928 and likely had not a hall of it's own yet. This dance was certainly the first ever held by this chapter.

Rooftop - Note workers finishing placing the roof tiles which are also staged on the Beverly sidewalk below.

MONAGHAN, George F., lawyer; son of Patrick and Margaret (Kiley) Monaghan; educated at Holy Trinity parochial school; Detroit College, 1887-94, graduating, degrees of B.A. and M.A.; Detroit College of Law, LL.B., 1896; unmarried. Studied law in office of Hon. James H. Pound, 1897-1900, and was admitted to partnership as Pound & Monaghan, continuing until 1902; has been member law firm of George F. & Peter J. Monaghan (cousin), since 1906. General counsel Employers’ Association, Detroit, and of the National Founders’ Association, and Builders’ Association, Detroit. Member State Senate, 1898-01. Member Detroit Bar Association, Michigan State Bar Association, American Bar Association. Democrat. Catholic. Member Knights of Columbus, I.O.F., B.P.O.E. Clubs: Detroit, Detroit Yacht, Detroit Golf, Rushmere, Harmonie. Recreations: Outdoor sports. Office: 312-317 Majestic Bldg. Residence: 442 Brooklyn Av.

George Monaghan Biography - 1918

http://www.livoniakofc.com/index.html

Founded June 9,1928

George F. Monaghan Council #2690

19801 Farmington Rd

Livonia, MI 48152

Photo by the Manning Brothers

Twin brothers William H and John J Manning established Manning commercial photographers in 1906.

From the turn of the century through the 1970’s their studio was based in Detroit. Throughout this time the brothers documented the city creating a visual record of the changes that occurred throughout the 20th century. The brothers did a lot of business taking photographs for insurance purposes, which was likely how they were contracted for the Grande. The Manning Bros. archive consists of over 250,000 images and is today owned by Gem Theater owner and investor, Chuck Forbes. A negative exists for this photo in the Archive. Negative # 93385 is listed in the Manning index as "The Whitman Building". "Whitman" is apparently a corruption of "Weitzman" the building's original owner.