In 1913; the Michigan Central Station opened its majestic entrances to the people of Detroit. Designed by Warren Wetmore and Reed Stern; the firms also noted as the architects of the Grand Central Station in New York City; the depot was a marvel of grandeur and comfort for the traveler lucky enough to utilize its facilities. Soldiers went to war; families both separated and rejoined; and folks looking for an honest living in the Motor City all walked the Michigan Centrals elegant corridors. Since the last train pulled away from the station in 1988; the structure has fallen prey to rapidly paced deterioration. Detroits Michigan Central Station captures the glory of the Michigan Central and its environs. Using photographs from the Burton Historical Collection; as well as private collections; the book illustrates the use of the Michigan Central Station by a city whose story dramatically parallels that of this magnificent structure. The book also includes imagined futures of the station from some of the many people who have been inspired by the magic this grand building continues to exude.
#104349 in eBooks 2012-07-25 2012-07-25File Name: B008YW9UKC
Review
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Much more than I expectedBy desertwiffieYes - I expected details about the events surrounding The Station fire. but the book is so much more than that. Details? You bet. I learned about how the average nightclub business works. how the minor bands who play there function. how the people who work there perform their duties. how the people who frequent them gather. how the science of fire works. how greed complicates. how lucky and unlucky chance intercedes. how fire science functions. the many ways fire kills. how some people step in and place themselves before others. how the court system tries to sort it all out and make the final outcome just. Whew! What was this book not about? One of the most fascinating. informative reads Ive ever chanced upon. Bravo to this writer!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Compendium of CaosBy procanlitAs a matter of routine. I have to suit up each year with an air-pack and enter a smoke filled room to find a mannequin. I try to be aware of potential fire hazards at work. but this book really hit home how quickly the ordinary can become something out of Dantes Inferno. This is an excellent read for people who remember the event and for those who work in public safety or crowd control. It gives one pause as to becoming aware of evacuation and exits---the need for orderliness. control and proper egress. For. as this book lets the reader know. not everybody follows the rules. Shoddy builders and inspection caused the inside of this club to become deadly in only ninety seconds. The fumes were incapacitating and altered decision making skills. In "Killer Show." we meet the survivors and are introduced to those that didnt make it. It puts the pieces of a puzzle together. because it wasnt just one thing that went wrong. How it happened. the fire itself and the aftermath are all discussed. Some of the polysyllabic chemical terms are very long. but the writer does a good job in making their hazards understandable. This is also done with the legal proceedings that followed. both civil and criminal.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Well written. compelling. and educationalBy Star GirlWell written and compelling. this bookrsquo;s gut-wrenching descriptions of all that happened that terrible night are sad and sobering without being sentimental or disrespectful. What most impressed me was the authorrsquo;s ability to explain technical things ndash; such as. for example. various legal processes. how foam is made. how fire works ndash; for the non-schooled in these topics in a clear way that wasnrsquo;t insulting. I learned so much. and feel Irsquo;m walking away from this book with not only a solid understanding of that night and all the poor decisions as well as other environmental and social factors that led to it. but with a basic knowledge of things I wouldnrsquo;t think to learn on my own. I also think it serves as a work of public service: know your exits and donrsquo;t assume you are safe. There have been club tragedies following this one. such as in Brazil and Russia. that prove that we still havenrsquo;t learned our lessons. If we donrsquo;t. we arenrsquo;t honoring the lives of those who passed. Everyone who goes to large venuesmdash;and thatrsquo;s probably most of usmdash;should read this.
