8652 Oakland Avenue
Pinkerton’s Drug Store, L. D. Zimmerman Dry Goods, R. S. Pulver Drug Store, Mason Funeral Home, Mason-Williams Funeral Home, Anderson-Hutchings Funeral Home
I believe that this structure was built to house a drug store—or it became one shortly after it was completed. It may have been a Pinkerton’s Drug Store, which had locations across the city, but I can’t be certain. I’m fairly sure that this structure was completed around 1912 as Detroit continued to expand as manufacturing became bigger and bigger business here.
In addition to a commercial space on the main floor, there were flats upstairs. Residents may have owned or worked in the stores below or may have just needed a place to live. Regardless, at the time, Oakland Avenue was becoming a walkable community with public transit to get you anywhere in the city.
In 1918, the stock that once belonged to L. D. Zimmerman was offered at a public auction. The stock included dry goods, men’s and women’s furnishings, novelties, and more. I assume the structure had two storefronts at one time, not just one, as it does today.
In 1918 and 1919, there were advertisements for a drug store run by R. S. Pulver at the building. There isn’t much information other than that; the well runs dry after that for a few decades. Oakland Avenue Missionary Baptist Church may have held services here at one time.
At some point, the main floor was transformed into a funeral home. By 1957, the Mason family was running the operation.
In October 1966, Elijah Mason, the funeral home operator, lost control of a hearse and hit two boys on the sidewalk. One of the boys, a 16-year-old, died. The 14-year-old survived. Mason was 68 at the time.
Elijah M. Mason died in May 1971. Services were held at Russel Street Baptist Church, and his visitation was held at the Mason Funeral Home.
At some point before 1993, the name was changed to the Mason-Williams Funeral Home.
In July 2001, it was put on the market. There was no information in the advert about its prior use, but it stated that there were two living units above the retail space, it was located in an Empowerment Zone, and the price was $45,000.
In 2003, the Anderson-Hutchings Funeral Home was incorporated by Jacqueline and Algonquin Anderson at 8652 Oakland, pictured here. The company’s most recent annual report was from 2012, and it was dissolved in 2015. Until around 2010, the structure was painted white with blue awnings. Today, it’s brown with black awnings.
Online data shows that the Andersons purchased the structure in 2002 for $34,000 and still own it.
This structure has always fascinated me. There’s something eerie about it—but that might just be because I know it used to be a funeral home. No matter the weather, starring at the brick facade feels like something out of a rainy Tim Buron movie or something you’d have seen in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Hopefully, this structure can be revitalized soon. The North End is an excellent neighborhood; adding more density is a great way to keep pushing things forward.
If it ever reopens as a business, it’ll be hard not to think about the former occupants, though 😂
The address is also listed as 8646 Oakland Avenue.
