Brewster-Douglass Projects - Old photos
Brewster-Douglass Projects
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The first phase of the Brewster Homes in 1939
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First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt attends the ground-breaking ceremony for the Brewster Homes on Sept. 7, 1935, as one of the old homes sits razed behind her.
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The first phase of the Brewster Homes in 1939
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The first phase of the Brewster Homes in 1939
![](https://storage.googleapis.com/historic-detroit-prod/uploads/photo/photo/2705/Brewster-Homes_First-Phase-Exterior-3_1939_Burton-Edit.jpg)
The first phase of the Brewster Homes in 1939
![](https://storage.googleapis.com/historic-detroit-prod/uploads/photo/photo/2706/Brewster-Homes_First-Phase-Exterior-4_1939_Burton-Edit.jpg)
The first phase of the Brewster Homes in 1939
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When first lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited for the ground-breaking ceremony on Sept. 7, 1935, some of the projects' future residents threw her a party.
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The ground-breaking ceremony on Sept. 7, 1935.
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When first lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited for the ground-breaking ceremony on Sept. 7, 1935, some of the projects' future residents threw her a party.
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Protesters try to stop the demolition of one of the original Brewster Homes in 1990.
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Some of the abandoned row homes in 1992.
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The Brewster-Douglass townhouses in 1990.
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In 1988, Brewster-Douglass residents protest that the city was leveling houses in the city while they were stuck in squalor in the projects.
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The Brewster-Douglass Towers in 1979
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One of the original Brewster Homes, seen here in 1978, which were torn down in 1991 and replaced with new townhouses.
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By 1976, the Brewster-Douglass Projects had become rather rundown, but would continue to house families for another 30 years.
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The projects and its towers in 1955
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The site of the projects in the 1930s
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The projects in 1937
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The projects in 1936
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The projects in 1936
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Detroiters line up to apply for space in the Brewster projects in the 1930s
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Officials at a press event in the projects in 1938
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A family in the projects in 1938
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The projects in 1941
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Construction in the mid-1930s
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Construction of the projects in 1937
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The Brewster rec center in 1965
Motown stars The Supremes visit their old neighborhood at Brewster-Douglass.