Bernard Ginsburg House

The Bernard Ginsburg House is significant as the home of Bernard Ginsburg and Ida Ginsburg, both important figures in philanthropy, civic service, and the Jewish community during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Bernard Ginsburg House is also significant as a very early work of the well-known architect Albert Kahn and renowned Sculptor Julius Melchers. Permit: Nov 11 1898
Built: 1898-18

99
Architect: Nettleton & Kahn (Albert)
Albert Kahn Archives: Job No. 31

Contractors:
Mason: Andrew Clark
Carpenter: J. Spitzley
Sculptor: Julius Melchers
Roofing/Sheet Metal: Howie Roofing Co. Original Cost: $10,000

BERNARD GINSBURG - Bernard Ginsburg, iron merchant, junk dealer; born, Columbus, Ind., Aug. M, 1864; son of Samuel Nathan and Rachel Leah (Helfman) Ginsburg; parents were born in Poland and came to America in 1856; educated in Detroit public and high schools (Served as editor of Detroit High School newspaper The Utopian in 1882); married, Mar. 10, 1891, Ida E. Goldman (died, 1901); 3 children: Avery J., Golda, Judith. Began as an iron merchant in Detroit, July 1, 1891; president R. Ginsburg Sons Co.; vice-president Detroit Auto Specialty Co.; director New York Car Wheel Co., of Buffalo. Served as Public Lighting Commissioner, 1902-5; member Public Library Board, Jan. 1, 1909-Dec. 31, 1914 (Instrumental in the construction of the historic Detroit Public Main Library at 5201 Woodward--opened 3/21/1921). Member Detroit Board of Commerce. Director Provident Loan Society, United Jewish Charities (ex-president). Republican. Jewish religion. Member B'nai B'rith. Club: Phoenix. Recreation: reading. Office: 909 Greenwood Ave, 543 Franklin, Residence: 84 Adelaide St

"BERNARD GINSBURG. Opened as Branch 11 in rented quarters at 540 Hastings Street, December 1913. Moved to a permanent building at 91 Brewster Street, between St. Antoine and Hastings, May 15, 1917. Because of declining patronage, this building was turned over to the Recreation Department in May 1927 and the branch relocated in a rented store on Hastings. It remained there until November 1928 when the branch was closed permanently. Named for a member of the Library Commission." Woodford, Frank B. Parnassus on Main Street: A History of the Detroit Public Library. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1965. 437. Also noted that the Ginsburg Branch Library building was one of 10 Carnegie library buildings in the DPL system.