great lakes badge

[utrecht003]

I have found a round silver covered 1 1/2 inch badge I believe belonged to my father or grandfather who were in canada/america late twenties or early thirties. round the outside it says GREAT LAKES TERMINAL WAREHOUSE Co and in the centre is the number 21. I was born 1935 in London, UK so it would have been from before then. could anyone tell me anything about the badge,would it be American or Canadian

[AndrewP]

Hi utrecht003,

See http://www.flickr.com/photos/hades/3419925605/

This article imples that the Great Lakes Terminal Warehouse Co, of Toledo, Ohio was incorporated in 1927 and was bankrupt in 1936. However, that was not the end of the company - they were still on the go in 1963.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 13,2967128

All the best,

AndrewP

[utrecht003]

thanks for that info Andrew thats the jigsaw started. Even the photo gives one a feeling for the place.Great Thanks again Utrecht003

[Currie]

Hello utrecht003,

A few scraps compiled from U.S. newspapers.

1926 – Plans to erect an eight storey dry and cold storage warehouse at Wabash & Baker streets in Detroit wholesale district. Dimensions are 420ft x 139ft adjoining the main line of Michigan Central Railroad. I suspect this is the building on the corner of Wabash & Bagley (dimensions about right) http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&hl=en&i ... 69.08,,0,5

1927 – Contracts exchanged for construction of seven storey warehouse in Toledo (Morris & William St). Modelled after that operated in Detroit. Will have railway connections and docks for lake freighters. Here it is on the corner of Morris & Williams. http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&q= ... 02,,0,6.54

1947 – Toledo warehouse described as one of the largest of its kind in the nation – 5½ million cubic feet.

1969 – Majority interest in company acquired by clients of Sterling, Grace & Co.

Hope that’s interesting,
Alan

[utrecht003]

Hi Currie,It's another piece, A Robert Mitchell was my Uncle,He had emigrated to America, he lived and rumour has it died Feb 1937 by falling down a lift shaft in Detroit,Michigan. It looks like my grandfather went to America for the funeral.So I suspect the badge belonged to my Uncle not my father or grandfather Thanks for your info especially the clue about Detroit. Utrecht.

[Currie]

That’s OK Utrecht,

I had a look for something about your Robert Mitchell but unfortunately I can’t access a Detroit newspaper. Elevators of that time appear to have been incredibly dangerous and falling down the shafts seems to have been a popular pastime. Here are some incidents from around that time.

- N.Y. Times, Jan 3, 1937.
A new bellboy opens an elevator shaft door and steps in. He drops 3 stories because the elevator wasn’t there.
- Chicago Tribune, Jan 19, 1937.
Girl fell out of express elevator via open section of shaft wall.
- Chicago Tribune, Jan 25, 1937.
Elevator operator falls down shaft while looking under car for cause of a problem.
- Washington Post, Feb 6, 1937.
Young man and elevator fall down shaft while installing a new elevator, and, elsewhere, a worker in a new building walks into open elevator shaft.
- L.A. Times, Feb 7, 1937.
In a story about a local identity he throws the line “Over here the facilities for going up in balloons or falling down elevator shafts are glorious and unexcelled”.
- N.Y. Times, Feb 15, 1937.
Lawyer can’t explain how he fell to the bottom of an elevator shaft.
- Chicago Tribune, Mar 7, 1937.
Man at work at Market falls down elevator shaft.
- Washington Post, Mar 31, 1937.
Elevator stops a foot above floor level. Dog darts into gap and falls three stories.

All the best,
Alan

[utrecht003]

Hi alan thanks for that wee list of accidents, not so uncommon after all. I think I'll do the keep-fit thing and use the stairs in future. Stay safe and have a good 2010 Alex

[Currie]

Thanks Alex, and the same to you and yours.

All the best,
Alan