Mellus Newspapers Building

In 1933, William S. Mellus founded the Lincoln Parker, a newspaper serving the city of Lincoln Park.[2] As the population of Lincoln Park grew, Mellus eventually needed more space, and in 1941 he constructed this building on Fort Street.[2] Mellus also published newspapers for other downriver communities: The Allen Parker, Ecorse Advertiser, Southgate Sentinel, Taylor Tribune and Riverview Sentinel.[3] In the 1950s, a two-story addition was constructed in the rear of the building, enlarging the space to 4,080 square feet (379 m²).[4] Mellus also expanded operations into the next-door Pollack Jewellery Building.[4] Mellus sold his newspaper chain to Panax Corp. in the early 1970s. The company remained in the building until 1986, when it merged with Heritage Newspapers.[3] The building was sold by the Mellus family in 1994.[4]

In 2009, the Mellus and the next-door Pollack were purchased by the Lincoln Park Downtown Development Authority for $93,000.[5] The Mellus Building was demolished in May 2010; a small park is planned for the lot.[5]

The Mellus Newspapers Building had simple but distinguishing Art Deco characteristics exemplifying the application of these to a small commercial building.[2] The front facade was covered with white porcelain enamel panels, and the entryway was framed with curved glass block sections. Six steel casement windows faced the front.[2]

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