Cadillac Building
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
This old Cadillac Building dates back to the early 20th Century. The building is now part of Wayne State University and is on Cass near the corner of Burroughs. 09-10
The Cadillac Building still stands today and has been successfully repurposed as part of Wayne State University. More than a century after this photograph was taken, it remains a survivor from Detroit's early automotive days. 07-26
Covered Bridge
Spencerville, IN Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's the Spencerville Covered Bridge in Spencerville, IN. Spanning the St. Joseph River, this bright red covered bridge is the kind of roadside stop that's hard to pass by. With its weathered timbers and classic design, it looks much the same as it did when it was built back in 1873.
The bridge was built by John A. McKay using the Smith truss design, a style that's become pretty rare over the years. In fact, it's the only historic covered bridge still standing in DeKalb County and one of just a handful of Smith truss bridges left in Indiana.
Covered Bridge
Spencerville, IN Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Like many old covered bridges, this one has picked up a few stories along the way, including a local tale about a semi-truck getting stuck inside years ago. True or not, it's easy to see why drivers take it slow. 09-10
UPDATE: The bridge closed in 2018 for major repairs but reopened in 2021 after a careful restoration that included a new white oak floor. It's still carrying traffic today and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023. 07-26
Strong Building
Beloit, WI Photo courtesy Kelly Sullivan
The colorful terra cotta at Strong Building gives downtown Beloit, Wisconsin, plenty to admire above the storefronts. Its curved corner, geometric lines, and decorative flowers make this a building worth looking up at. Some of the best details sit well above eye level. 09-10
Built in 1929 and designed by Chicago architects Oman & Lilienthal, the four-story landmark combines pale-green upper walls with darker ground-floor tiles. Stylized daisies and cornstalk motifs add to the Art Deco display. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in January 1983.
UPDATE: A major exterior restoration was completed in 2026, repairing damaged terra cotta, recreating missing ornament, and addressing structural deterioration. The building continues housing offices and shops, with its distinctive façade ready for another stretch of downtown life. 07-26
Witte Hardware Company Building (Closed)
St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The faded lettering on Witte Hardware Company Building leaves little mystery about its earlier business. Rising above Laclede’s Landing in St. Louis, the brick warehouse still advertises a company whose shipping days are long over. That ghost sign certainly gives the upper floors some character. 06-07
Completed in December 1905, the six-story warehouse served a wholesale hardware business with roots dating to 1849. A bridge across Collins Street connected it with the company’s offices and sample rooms, keeping merchandise and business operations close together.
UPDATE: The building survives in commercial use following conversion to offices and restaurant space. Later renovation work updated its common areas and utilities, while the old painted company name remains a recognizable feature. Fortunately, the warehouse found more work without losing every trace of its original trade. 07-26
Grunden Martin (Gone)
St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The Crunden-Martin Manufacturing Company warehouses stood just south of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. Their massive brick walls and faded company lettering made the complex worth exploring, even after the surrounding streets had grown quiet. 06-07
Founded in the late 1800s, Crunden-Martin grew into a major manufacturer of household goods, producing buckets, mops, kites, and military supplies during World War II. The enclosed skybridge became a particularly memorable feature, connecting buildings above the street.
Grunden Martin (Gone)
St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
By 2007, many buildings stood vacant, but their substantial construction offered hope for another use. It wasn’t difficult to imagine shops, studios, or apartments bringing activity back to this stretch of the riverfront.
UPDATE: A devastating five-alarm fire swept through the abandoned complex in late 2025. The remaining structures, including the familiar skybridge, were demolished in 2026 to clear the site for future redevelopment. Another distinctive piece of the St. Louis riverfront has disappeared. 07-26
Tom Sawyer Fence
Hannibal, MO Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The Tom Sawyer Fence in Hannibal, Missouri, recalls one of literature’s better chore-avoidance schemes. Tom persuaded the neighborhood boys to pay for the privilege of whitewashing Aunt Polly’s fence. Looking at these boards, you have to admire the salesmanship. 07-08
The recreated fence stands beside the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, connecting the familiar scene with the town that inspired it. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer appeared in 1876, turning childhood adventures and an unwelcome painting assignment into stories read around the world.
UPDATE: The fence remains part of the museum experience, with whitewashing activities keeping the scene familiar to visitors. In 2026, the museum celebrated the novel’s 150th anniversary. A few boards and white paint still make an effective introduction to Tom’s talent for getting somebody else to do the work. 07-26
Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge
Witte Hardware Company Building (Closed)
Grunden Martin (Gone)
Grunden Martin (Gone)
Tom Sawyer Fence
