Detroit Edison Hart Substation, 11736 East Vernor, Detroit, Wayne County, MI

Significance: The Detroit Edison Hart Substation is typical of the kind of electrical substations built for the Detroit Edison Company in the early 20th century to step down (reduce) high voltage incoming electric current before distribution to residential lines and industrial customers; original equipment also converted incoming alternating current into direct current for streetcar lines. The Hart Substation, furthermore, is associated with the A.A. Albrecht Company, a prominent local builder which constructed Detroit Edison's early power plants and substations. And thirdly, the Hart Substation is significant in terms of its association with the rapid demographic and economic growth of Detroit during the first three decades of the century, a growth brought about by the organization and concentration of the automobile industry in the city. One leading district of automobile and auto-related companies was along Detroit's far east riverfront, the area serviced by the Hart Substation.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-9
Survey number: HAER MI-25
Building/structure dates: 1914 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1928 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1941 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1942 Subsequent Work