8000 East Forest Avenue
First State Bank of Detroit, Griswold-First State Bank, Eagle Dairy, Christ Temple Church, Christ Temple Emmanuel Pentecostal Church of Our Lord Apostolic Faith
Considering that this structure has been in use for most of its history, I’ve been surprised that I haven’t been able to determine much of its history. That said, here’s what I’ve found.
By July 1919, a new branch of the First State Bank of Detroit was under construction at the intersection of Forest and Van Dyke. First State Bank was established in 1853 and had several branches around Detroit. This one would be complete by November and was designed by Harry S. Angell, who co-founded Michigan Architect and Engineer that same year.
Initially the German-American Bank, this bank branch would remain under the First State Bank Brank of Detroit name until 1927, when it consolidated with Griswold National Bank, forming Griswold-First State Bank. By 1929, that bank didn’t exist. As mentioned in my post about 4257 McDougall Street, I’m not certain what happened, but it was absorbed into the Union Commerce Group as the National Bank of Commerce of Detroit.
After the merger, I’m unsure what happened to the structure. At some point, it became an Eagle Dairy Bar. I’d guess it opened at some point in the 1940s.
Eagle Dairy was one of many similar businesses in Detroit. Their warehouse was at 2294 West Davison, and in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s operated numerous corner stores. So far, I’ve found records of Eagle Dairy locations at 15148 Livernois, 13654 Wyoming, 11700 Dexter, 18438 Wyoming, 7107 W. Warren, a spot on Twelfth near Seward, and 8000 East Forest, pictured here. However, I’m skeptical that some of those addresses are correct.
In the 1960s, Eagle Dairy fielded a hockey team that played other company squads from around Metro-Detroit at Olympia on Grand River. I assume most of the players were from their warehouses, but it isn’t ridiculous to think that some players might have worked at a dairy bar.
At some point, the Eagle Dairy at the corner of Forest and Van Dyke closed its doors. I could determine most of their locations above from robberies in the 1950s and 1960s, stopping in the mid-1960s, so I’d guess that’s when they closed.
Like when the bank left, I’m uncertain what happened directly afterward. At some point, it became Christ Temple Church. In 1989, Christ Temple Pentecostal Church was incorporated and still exists today as The House of Prayer and Worship; however, none of their paperwork listed 8000 East Forest.
Today, it’s occupied by Christ Temple Emmanuel Pentecostal Church of Our Lord Apostolic Faith, which may be the same parish. At some point, a congregation painted ‘Christ Temple Church’ over the Eagle Dairy sign on the top of the structure. Recently, it was painted white, erasing both. Some ornamental details are peaking out behind the sign, so there may have been a clock there at one time.
I’ve noticed parishioners here occasionally on Sundays and a rare weekday. It’s well maintained, looked after, and the only structure still standing at the corner of Forest and Van Dyke.
This structure is very similar to the First State Bank of Detroit branch at 4257 McDougall Street; however, it’s worth noting that they aren’t identical, and this branch has more ornament than its sibling on McDougall.
The neighborhood east of this bank building shows signs of gentrification, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens to nearby structures in the next few years.
