12801 East Jefferson Avenue
Continental Motors, Kaiser-Frazer, Continental Aluminum
One of the first vacant structures I explored in Detroit is currently being demolished. Albert Kahn designed the building, and the first phase was completed in 1912. I won’t go into great detail on the history of the plant, but here are a few tidbits;
Continental Motors started in Muskegon, but their manufacturing plant off Jefferson Avenue in Detroit produced engines for dozens of name-brand companies. Continental made tank engines and other war materials to support the effort during the Second World War.
At this time, testing cells were built on-site for wartime purposes. They were built to withstand heavy testing, which may be why it took this long to demolish them. If you thought normal reinforced concrete was tough to bring down…
Kaiser-Frazer did the last large-scale production of engines at the facility. During the Korean War, the plant once again transitioned to wartime production.
Not much of the plant was left by the late 1960s, and it was last used by a metals company called Continental Aluminum. I assume that name was chosen because ‘Continental’ was still spelled out down the smoke stack. The foundry was demolished roughly a decade and a half ago, leaving behind the rugged test cells and the tattered power plant.
Detroit Urbex and Historic Detroit reported that scrappers took down the water tower. I can only imagine watching it fall from such a high distance—as it was taller than most of the complex.
Exploring the test cells at Continental was like a labyrinth. I remember feeling like I was wandering through the set of an Indiana Jones/Transformers crossover movie. The view from the roof was unique—offering a scenic vista that included the parking lot for Jefferson North Assembly, the post office, and the Savarine Hotel off Jefferson. The roof had various vents above the testing areas, which felt like something from an industrial Dr. Seuss book.
I’ll cherish my memories exploring Continental forever, but I’m not sad to see this one go. There’s no possible redevelopment plan for it, and it’s an eyesore, even given how intriguing it appears cruising down Jefferson.
