1775 West Forest Avenue
Danish Brotherhood Hall, Masonic Hall, Church
The cornerstone for the Danish Brotherhood Hall at 1775 West Forest Avenue was laid in November 1915. I’m unsure who designed it, but the structure was an integral part of Woodbridge from its completion in early 1916 until the final occupant closed around 2000. In addition to being DBH Lodge #227, it was also called the Danish Brotherhood Temple.
Early in its history, the DBH was home to several Scandinavian community groups, not just those run by Danes. There were dances and plays in the hall, meetings in the various community spaces, and church services inside the building.
In the 30s and 40s, the Upper Peninsula Club of Detroit utilized portions of the space to hold events. Many Scandanavians and Swedes had emigrated to Detroit from Copper Country, some of whom may have ended up at the DBH.
On Thanksgiving in 1948, 125 people met at the hall for an event hosted by the Vegetarian Society of Michigan. They were fed a non-meat meal and enjoyed the holiday with a “clean conscience,” the Detroit Free Press reported. The organization held other events here in the 1940s and early 1950s.
In the 1940s, 50s, and early 60s, socialist speakers held lectures, and the Labor Party promoted their candidates for election at the DBH. Generally speaking, Danes had been open to socialist ideas as far back as the 1800s, so it isn’t shocking that they allowed the meetings to occur.
The structure is about a mile from Wayne State’s campus, making it a close commute for students curious about socialism, communism, and politics in general. Wayne State currently has a branch of the Young Democratic Socialists of America. The DBH was also a popular place for union meetings, and there were connections between some union leaders and socialist organizations.
In the late 1950s, articles referencing the Danish Brotherhood Hall/Temple became sparse. The last mention of either I’ve found is in 1970. A few articles from 1973 insinuate that a Masonic Hall may have been inside the building in the DBH in later years. Detroit Urbex reported that a church utilized the property until around 2001. Interior photos I’ve seen since show pews in the hall area, so that story adds up.
The original window framing on the structure’s west side was visible from Rose Parks Boulevard until a few years ago. The front of the building still adorns a decorative plaque with D.B. on it. To the left, there’s a cornerstone with “Lodge 227, DB, 1915” etched into it.
In 2012, a company called the Danish Brotherhood Apartments was formed by Edward Potas, the manager of real estate development at Cinnaire. They wanted to create seven lofts, renovate space for a bar, and lease commercial space at the now-abandoned DBH. They received permission to do so from BSEED and started renovation work. The roof was replaced entirely, flashings were upgraded to prevent water penetration, and new gutters were installed. LAAVU was in charge of designing the redevelopment.
For reasons unknown to me, work halted after that. I believe the organization may have been awarded a grant to complete the first phase of work, but I can’t be certain.
In 2021, it was listed through O’Connor for $525,000. It may have sold last year for $485,000, but I haven’t been able to verify that with a credible source.
Regardless of its current ownership status, the work has been completed to ensure this structure will be saved. Hopefully, it becomes a space that Detroiters from every walk of life can utilize.
