Detroit's Quartermaster

DETROIT IN 1827 AND LATER ON. By General Friend Palmer:

Bates street from Jefferson avenue to Atwater was a residence street. Hon. Austin E. Wing lived on this street... . 

Warehouses were at the foot of Randolph street, foot of Woodward avenue, and further down were the warehouses of DeGarmo Jones, Oliver Newberry, Shadrich Gillett, etc.  From this up, there were not any buildings or points of special importance except, perhaps, the Wendell & Whiting house (still standing) nearly opposite the old Michigan Exchange site. In the early days it was occupied by Tunis S. Wendell and Major Whiting, the former an extensive merchant here, and the latter was the United States quartermaster at this post. This old house has witnessed within its walls, many gay and festive scenes. It was built in 1821 by Benjamin Stead, an Englishman, and said to be the second brick residence ever built in Detroit, that of Governor Hull being the first.