4409 31st Street
Central Savings Bank Branch, Craig’s Chapel Baptist Church
This structure’s address may have at one time been 4800 Buchanan Street
This structure, completed in 1923, was designed by Albert Kahn for the Central Savings Bank. I’ve found very little information on this structure, which might stem from address issues. It’s listed as 4409 31st Street online, but I think the former or actual address is 4800 Buchanan. Either way, this structure has kept a low profile over the years.
In 1927, the Central Savings Bank was absorbed into the First National Bank. I’m unsure if this is when the bank building pictured here first closed or if it remained open as a First National Bank Branch after the merger. At one time, there was an additional entrance or two secondary storefronts on the structure’s west side.
I’ve got no clue what went on here after the bank merger and the 1970s when a church moved in. The structure is well suited for a bank, workshop, machine shop, diner, store, or offices. Many bank buildings were used as small machinery shops during the war to help power Detroit’s massive war machine. If anyone has information on what this structure was, please let me know.
In 1973, Craig’s Chapel Baptist Church was incorporated and held services at the structure, listed then at 4800 Buchanan. The reverend was William H. Craig, and there are still pews inside this structure. In December 1995, a William H. Craig died, but I’m not sure it was this William H. Craig. The obituary was for a man living in Tuscaloosa; however, it was printed in the Detroit Free Press, so I believe it may have been him.
Craig’s Chapel Baptist Church stayed afloat until 1999, when the pastor was Donald D. Craig, and it folded. After that, the structure was vacated and has been empty since. It was foreclosed upon, and the Land Bank sold it in 2021 with two additional parcels next to it. At some point, the structure had a strange pitched roof added, but the new owners removed and replaced it. This structure looks tattered, but it has a brand new roof, which gives me hope that it’ll be saved.
While photographing it, a woman and her son stopped in a truck. She asked if I knew what they would do with it, as they had hoped to buy it, but someone had beaten her to it. Unfortunately, I had no idea, but she told me that the new owners were looking after it and had put the new roof on, which is visible from Google.
Still, the facade here is crumbling. There are ornate details on the sidewalk, and more appear close to joining those already fallen. A new roof is a significant step, but seeing this one looking so tattered is painful. Hopefully, the owners can continue the fantastic work they’ve done so far to ensure this one is saved for future generations!
