12011 Hamilton Avenue
Awrey Bakery, Lorraine Beauty Salon, Highland Park Caucus Club
I believe that this structure was built in the late 1920s. By then, Hamilton Avenue was becoming a bustling commercial corridor akin to Woodward Avenue, clad with banks, offices, stores, and apartments. On multiple occasions, I’ve heard Hamilton referred to as Little Woodward, and seeing historic photographs of the corridor, it’s easy to understand why.
In February 1935, this structure was listed as an Awrey Bakery. The company dates back to the early 1910s and had locations around the Detroit area. I’m not certain what their location here entailed; however, the advertisement was for 16 varieties of Awrey cupcakes. Awrey Bakery, which eventually moved to Livonia, closed in 2023 after 113 years.
In April 1948, the address was listed in the paper as Lorraine Beauty Salon. The beauty parlor was hiring an operator, and applicants had to be an expert hairstylist.
In 1963, the Highland Park Caucus Club was incorporated. The nonprofit was built to promote civic action, vet local candidates for office, help certain legislation pass, and “involve ourselves with issues affecting the welfare of our city to do whatever is necessary and proper to secure these purposes or ends.”
All the board members were Highland Park residents when the nonprofit was founded. Regular members paid $2 per year, and affiliate members paid $5.
Early on, the group often hosted events at Ferris Junior High on Cortland Street between 2nd and Woodward, which was torn down recently. In June 1965, they hosted their first annual Cotton Ball. The proceeds were used to send deserving children to Camp Rankin on Lake Huron between Port Sanilac and Lexington. Beatrice Allen Summers, a local singer, was running the event.
In February 1967, the club held a banquet at Ferris Junior High, at which Lynn Townsend, chairman of the board of the Chrysler Corporation, spoke. For the honor, Townsend was made an honorary member for life.
At the event, the Detroit Free Press quoted him, “I think all of us may be inclined at times to feel that human brotherhood is a kind of sensitive and delicate plant that withers and dies with the first touch of rough weather, but based on my experience as a businessman, I believe there is at least one hardy variety of brotherhood. And that’s the kind that grows in an atmosphere of work.” Townsend, born in Flint and educated at the University of Michigan, would retire from Chrysler in 1975.
In 1969, the organization moved from a home on Monterey to 12111 Hamilton Avenue. In 1974, they moved again, this time to 12011 Hamilton Avenue, the structure pictured here. I believe they retained ownership or a lease on the former property, as the Highland Park Caucus Club Day Car was located at 12111 Hamilton starting in 1970 through 1979.
Throughout the 1970s, the Highland Pack Caucus Club was active in the community. They pushed millages for the schools and hosted events. In 1972, Walter J. Crider was president of the club.
In 1973, Highland Park Police Officers presented the findings from an investigation at a news conference held at the Highland Park Caucus Club, pictured here. Though Highland Park was 68% black at the time, the police force was 86% white. According to the paper, all three captains, nine lieutenants, and the city’s one policewoman were white. 12 of 13 sergeants, five of six corporals, 13 of 14 detectives, and 46 or 58 patrolmen were white. The non-whites on the force said that they faced discrimination in the workplace.
In 1975, the Highland Park Caucus Club, pictured here, displayed an exhibit of photos, poems, panels, and statements depicting black history. The exhibit, titled Black Odyssey, was designed by George Norman, described in the paper as a Detroit Social Historian.
In October 1976, General Baker held a fundraiser at the club, running as the Communist Labor Party’s candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives.
Though holding strong in the 1970s, the structure and club were mostly mentioned in obituaries by the 1980s. Eventually, the club became a place to vote in Highland Park.
Though not mentioned as much in the paper, community events were still held here. In 1988, the Sisterhood of International Community held a Conscious Pre-Kwanzaa Party here, with live entertainment, fashion, and shopping.
In November 1992, a meeting was held here to speak on how to bring casinos to Highland Park. The jump to try and bring gambling houses to the city came after the Chrysler Corporation decided to jump ship, moving their global headquarters from Highland Park to Auburn Hills. This resulted in “the loss of more than half of the city’s annual operating budget.” A committee of 15 members was formed to promote gambling in Highland Park, and they held at least one meeting at the structure pictured here. In 1992, the committee was headed by Milton Downes, who said that the 136-acre Chrysler site could be transformed into a casino village.
In November 1992, Highland Park voters approved the city’s gambling proposal, and this committee was a response to that. Other big names were involved, too. Personal injury attorney A. Robert Zeff proposed a “palatial casino complex” covering 10 acres at the corner of Hamilton and Glendale. Detroit’s casinos were approved in 1996; however, Highland Park was never granted permission to open such gambling houses.
Things were looking similarly bleak at the Highland Park Caucus Club. In May 1999, the location ceased operations as a polling place for Highland Park elections. The last report for the nonprofit came in 1998, with the organization being dissolved in 2001.
In May 2008, the structure was listed for sale in the paper. The listing said that it was 2,500 square feet with parking, and the seller was looking for $7,500 cash or a land contract totaling $15,000 with $2,500 down and $250 a month payments.
Today, the structure is owned by the City of Highland Park Treasurer. The roof has started to collapse, and there are large holes in the floor inside the building. It will likely continue to deteriorate.
However, in July 2024, there was a motion at the Highland Park City Council meeting to approve the sale of the building and land at 12011 Hamilton. I’m not sure if it passed; however, putting the structure into new hands might be just what this one needs. That said, the back door doesn’t exist, and the front one opens if you pull it, so I’m not holding my breath.
This structure is another example of how powerful a group of people can be. Without the Highland Park Caucus Club, this structure would likely not be standing or, at least, in as relatively good condition as it is today. With enough money and care, this one could be saved.
Riding down Hamilton Avenue feels similar to riding down Gratiot or Grand River Avenue ten years ago. A significant difference between the future of Hamilton compared to those spoke streets is that Highland Park isn’t currently demolishing buildings due to lack of funds. So, in theory, the historic nature of Hamilton Avenue could be preserved so long as people with money who care about such things scoop up the properties. I’m not confident something like that will happen, but it would make for a cool commercial district in the next few decades.
