Michigan Bell and Western Electric Building (Rem.)
Detroit, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's the old Michigan Bell and Western Electric Building in Detroit, MI. The first thing that catches your eye is the giant roadside sign with its oversized rotary telephone. It's a great piece of roadside advertising and the kind of sign that would have been hard to miss from the nearby freeway. By the time this photo was taken, though, it looked like the place had seen better days. 06-07

Built in 1930, this impressive Art Deco building served as a warehouse and operations center for Michigan Bell and Western Electric. It wasn't a neighborhood telephone exchange as it might appear, but a major hub for equipment, offices, vehicle garages, and even the printing of regional telephone directories.

The building itself is every bit as impressive as the sign. Designed by the same architectural firm responsible for some of Detroit's finest skyscrapers, its clean lines and decorative details show that even an industrial building could have a little style.

As much as the architecture stands out, it's the giant telephone sign that's hard to forget. Complete with a giant rotary dial, it once included a "Weather-Phone" display that gave passing motorists the latest forecast. Signs like that made everyday buildings a lot more interesting.

Michigan Bell and Western Electric Building
Detroit, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

UPDATE: The abandoned building has since been completely restored and now serves as housing and offices for the Neighborhood Service Organization. Unfortunately, the giant telephone sign has been removed, making old photos like this one an even better reminder of Detroit's roadside past. 07-26

Ashley Street Power House
St Louis, MO
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here are a couple of views of the old Ashley Street Power House in St. Louis, MO. With its towering smokestacks, arched windows, and heavy brickwork, this is the kind of industrial building that makes you wonder why ordinary office buildings couldn't have been built with a little more style. Even a powerhouse deserved some architectural attention back then. 06-07

Built in the early 1900s, the plant helped provide power for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. More than a century later, it still serves an industrial purpose, producing steam for buildings in downtown St. Louis.

Right next door stands another old powerhouse built by the competing Laclede Power Company. It has even more decorative detail, with terra cotta trim and a design that looks more like a grand public building than a utility plant.

By the time these photos were taken, the neighboring Laclede building had been gutted and was undergoing a major renovation. It looked like it might become some sort of visitor center, but it was eventually incorporated into the Lumiere Place casino complex.

Ashley Street Power House
St Louis, MO
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

These two buildings make an interesting pair. One kept doing the job it was built for, while the other found a completely new use. Either way, they certainly don't build powerhouses like this anymore.

UPDATE: The Ashley Street Power House remains active and continues supplying steam to downtown St. Louis. The neighboring Laclede Power Company building survives as part of the Horseshoe St. Louis complex, with much of its historic exterior still intact. 07-26

Lemp Brewery
St Louis, MO
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here are a couple of views of the old Lemp Brewery in St. Louis, MO. Even sitting mostly empty, it's hard not to be impressed by the sheer size of the place. Block after block of brick buildings, towering smokestacks, and rows of arched windows make this one of the most fascinating industrial complexes in the Midwest. 06-07

The brewery got its start in the 1840s, and by the late 1800s the Lemp family had built one of the largest brewing companies in the country. A big part of their success came from the natural limestone caves beneath the brewery, where beer could be kept cool while it aged long before mechanical refrigeration came along.

Like many breweries, Prohibition changed everything. The company couldn't survive the ban on beer production and closed in 1919. A few years later, the sprawling complex was purchased by the International Shoe Company, which put the massive buildings back to work as warehouses and manufacturing space for decades.

By the time these photos were taken, there wasn't much activity around the property. A sign out front announced plans to convert the old brewery into condominiums, but with dozens of buildings spread across the site, it was easy to wonder just how big of a project that would be.

Of course, the Lemp Brewery is known for more than just beer. Thanks in part to the tragic history of the Lemp family, it's often listed as one of the most haunted places in St. Louis. The nearby Lemp Mansion gets most of the attention, but the brewery's underground caves and tunnels have become the subject of countless ghost stories over the years. Paranormal investigators—including the crew from Ghost Adventures—have explored the property looking for unexplained voices, footsteps, and other strange happenings. Whether you believe those stories or not, wandering around a quiet complex this large certainly lets your imagination do the rest.

Today the old brewery has found a mix of new uses. Some buildings house businesses, artists, and even a brewery once again, while others still wait for their next chapter. Fortunately, much of the original complex survives, making it one of the most impressive reminders of St. Louis' brewing past.

UPDATE: Much of the Lemp Brewery complex is still standing and has gradually been adapted for a variety of businesses, studios, and event spaces. The famous brick buildings, old painted signs, and underground caves remain a fascinating stop for both brewery history buffs and anyone curious about its haunted reputation. 07-26