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History Loves Company
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The Stories We Keep • Volume 13
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Detroit’s Lost Palaces of Wonder — Theatres, Banks, and the Comeback Stories We’re Watching
This week we went from the velvet glow of Detroit’s theatre district to a Pontiac landmark that once carried an entire city’s confidence —
and we close it out with Henry & Clara Ford’s Fair Lane Estate.
Plus: Episode 2 of the podcast drops Sunday at 6PM.
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Hi — Chris here.
I love weeks like this — the ones that feel like a map.
We start in Detroit, where the lights used to hit the streets like a promise…
then we head back home to Pontiac, where one building carried the weight of a whole downtown…
and we end the week at Fair Lane — still under restoration, but still powerful enough to stop you in your tracks.
If you’ve ever stepped inside any of these places (or remember them at their peak), hit reply and tell me what you remember.
That’s how the archive gets built.
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This Week’s Episodes
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Before streaming… before TVs in every room… Detroit gathered inside palaces of velvet, gold, and marquee light.
This episode is the story — what those theatres meant, what we lost, and what still stands.
Watch Monday’s Episode →
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A Pontiac landmark that carried the city’s confidence — and what its comeback could mean for downtown’s next chapter.
If you’ve got memories of this building (working there, visiting, watching it change), we want them.
Watch Wednesday’s Episode →
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Premieres Friday 1/30/26 at 6PM EST.
Still under restoration — but even in the dead of winter, this estate feels like Michigan’s blueprint in real life.
Go to Homes of Michigan →
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The Stories We Keep Podcast
Episode 2 premieres Sunday at 6PM — Forgotten Amusement Parks
This month we’re going back to the places that once made Michigan feel like summer could last forever:
Belle Isle, Edgewater, and Electric Park.
If the YouTube episodes are the walkthroughs, the podcast is the deep dive — longer stories, slower pace, more context.
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The Houses Behind the Headlines
The Bishop Mansion: once $9M… sold for $800K
This is one of the biggest “wait… what?” stories I’ve seen:
the Bishop Mansion sold for $800,000 after once being listed for $9,000,000.
It’s the perfect example of how history + maintenance + buyer pool + carrying costs all collide in the real world.
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Community Chronicles
Michigan sites added to the National Register (2025–2026)
Some preservation wins happen quietly — but they matter.
Michigan added more historic places to the National Register of Historic Places in 2025 and 2026,
and we’re collecting the most interesting additions for an upcoming Community Chronicles feature.
If you know any of the newly listed sites (or have photos, clippings, or family ties),
hit reply with “SITE + CITY + what it meant to you.”
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Sober Strides
Slow build. No ego. Real progress.
No huge update this week — and that’s the win.
We’re slowly ramping up mileage after injury, staying patient, and stacking consistent days.
And Kit’s still moving and grooving — always. 🕺
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Market Moments
Market Overview — December 2025 (Detroit)
Prices dipped: Median listing price fell about 3.4% YoY to $100,950
(vs. national median decline of about 0.6%).
More inventory: Active listings grew about 22.9% YoY, giving buyers more options — even as new listings declined.
Price reductions increasing: About 14.9% of listings had price cuts, meaning more negotiating power for buyers.
⏱ Time on Market: Median of 66 days (still faster than the national median of ~73).
📊 Buyer vs. Seller Climate: December leaned buyer-friendly. For sellers, smart pricing + strong marketing mattered more than ever.
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Forever Home Project
Preservation with a purpose
We’re still early in the planning phases, but the mission stays the same:
restoring historic homes while creating real second chances.
If you want to follow along (or you have 501(c)(3) experience), here’s the hub:
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HLC Apparel
Wear the mission
If these stories mean something to you, the simplest way to support the work is to wear it.
The Foundation Collection is made for people who believe preservation matters.
Shop this crewneck →
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Reply Prompt
Where are you reading from?
Hit reply and tell me your city —
and one building/place you’ve got real memories tied to that deserves an episode.
Format it like this: “PLACE + CITY + why it matters.”
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