5701 McDougall Street
Anthony J. Lipke Hardware, McDougall Hardware
Of all the businesses that used to be on every corner that I wish Detroit still had, the simple hardware store is up there. Don’t get me wrong, Detroit still has its fair share of local hardware operations, but they aren’t as plentiful as they once were. These businesses are often the heartbeat of a healthy neighborhood—selling everything from sporting equipment and bikes to heavier machinery. Since it was built around 1920, this structure has operated as a hardware store for almost its entire life.
Anthony Lipke was born around 1869. In 1895, at age 26, he married Mary Sieber, 22. They both lived in Detroit. At some point, Anthony was involved with a grocery operation. I can’t be sure whether or not 5701 McDougall was built for Lipke; however, he was running Anthony J. Lipke Hardware there by 1924. The Lipke family lived in the attached dwelling. The address for the residence may be 3031 East Palmer.
In 1945, Mr. and Mrs. Lipke celebrated their golden wedding anniversary—50 years of life spent together. Anthony was 76; Mary was 72. According to the Detroit Free Press announcement, they had operated Lipke Hardware for 38 years, dating their business back to around 1907. However, considering the piece was corrected the next day because it got the date of their celebration wrong, it should be taken with a grain of salt.
On March 15, 1952, Anthony Lipke died at 82 at Harper Hospital. His obituary said he had a hardware store on McDougall for 30 years, which is on par with when the store first popped up on the record. It also mentions that he was in the grocery business for 15 years. Services were held at Saint Hyacinth Roman Catholic Church.
After that, the waters get muddy. I know Lipke Hardware was open until at least 1963; however, I’m unsure when it changed hands and names. By 1983, it had become McDougall Hardware. Like the business run by the Lipke family, the new operation was a neighborhood joint. You could come in to grab something quickly or stay a while and ask questions about your project.
Long after most businesses had left Poletown East, McDougall Hardware was still open. From the Poletown GM Plant’s construction to the city’s disinvestment in the early 2000s, you could walk into McDougall Hardware and leave with what you needed.
Around 2010, the shop closed its doors and moved to a new location at 7624 W. McNichols, that used to be a corner store. It’s still called McDougall Hardware and is open six days a week.
Unlike many vacant structures, 5701-5703 McDougall is well maintained. The front windows are still dressed up with interesting bits and bobs, and the building is looked after. This is spectacular, but it’s a shame that such a handsome structure isn’t fully utilized.
Hopefully, another business will soon occupy the corner of McDougall and Palmer. It probably won’t be a hardware store, but hopefully, it’s something just as valuable to the neighborhood.
