History of Our Space, Hosmer Library

Built in 1910, originally named the Hosmer Branch Library, a branch of the Detroit Public Library, this building opened early in January of 1911, only a few years before WWI began. 112 years later, it has become the home to Macro Connect, our IT Managed Services company, with 30 employees. 

What do we know about the building’s history?

The library was named for George S. Hosmer, a prominent Detroit Judge who served as a Wayne County Circuit Court Judge from 1888 until his death in 1921. He was, by many accounts, a very accomplished judge, who served as a role model for others.

This library was not the only entity named to honor Judge Hosmer. The City of Detroit chose to honor his legacy by naming a playground, elementary school, and this library after him. Hosmer Library is the only structure of the three that still carries his name.

The building was designed by architect Louis Kamper, whose other Detroit buildings include the Book Cadillac Hotel, Broderick Tower and the Book Building and Tower.

The Hosmer Branch Library opened featuring adult and children’s reading rooms, a club room, and a 200-seat auditorium in the basement. Here are two photos of the Hosmer Branch Library in its prime: 

Unfortunately, it did not remain a library for long. The Hosmer Branch Library closed on May 30th, 1932, after 21 years. The building was turned over to the Board of Health.

When Gratiot Avenue was widened 4 years later, the building was moved back from the street. The health department leased the building for 13 years, then purchased it in 1945. It served in various health-related capacities, and eventually became an HIV clinic run by the Department of Human Services.

It is not known exactly when the Department of Human Services turned the building into an HIV clinic, but with the first known AIDs patient treated at Henry Ford Hospital in 1982, it is likely sometime after that date. It is, however, known to have closed sometime after 2007, and then was abandoned.

According to the Detroit Free Press, “the vacant building was damaged in a 2016 fire, and was sold later that year by the City of Detroit to a private buyer for $35,000.”

Much of the interior of the building was destroyed by that fire early in the morning on April 21st, 2016. Here are a few photos:

Despite this obvious and heavy damage, the building was sold for $35,000 to a developer in September of 2016 who was interested in converting it to a book store and cafe. The buyer’s plans changed, and in May of 2017, he sold the still-empty building to the real estate firm of metro Detroit businessman and attorney Joshua Kushnereit.

Kushnereit considered relocating his insurance business, J.P. Kush & Associates, into the building, and was awarded some grant money for renovations, but after a few years, with the Coronavirus raging, his plans changed, and in November of 2020, Kushnereit sold the building to Macro Connect’s Co-Founders, Matt & Kevin Morin.

It was renovated between 2021-2023, with the Macro Connect team moving into their new work home in July of 2023.

From a library to a varied public health building, to an HIV clinic to an IT Managed Service Provider, the old Hosmer Library still stands.

While it looks like a library on the outside, it has now been repurposed into a beautifully contemporary space. You can read about the renovation process in a future post, but for now, here is a look at Hosmer Holdings, the home of Macro Connect, LLC: