Mellus Newspapers Building

Mellus Newspapers Building
Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Former site of building
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Location	1661 Fort St., Lincoln Park, Michigan
Coordinates	42°15′6″N 83°10′31″W / 42.25167°N 83.17528°W / 42.25167; -83.17528
Area	less than one acre
Built	1941
Architectural style	Moderne
Demolished	2010
NRHP reference No.	05000716[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	July 20, 2005
Removed from NRHP	July 24, 2024

The Mellus Newspapers Building was a commercial building at 1661 Fort Street in Lincoln Park, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005,^[1] and demolished in 2010.^[2] The building was removed from the National Register of Historic Places in 2024.^[3]

In 1933, William S. Mellus founded the Lincoln Parker, a newspaper serving the city of Lincoln Park.^[2] As the population of Lincoln Park grew, Mellus eventually needed more space, and in 1941 he constructed this building on Fort Street.^[2] Mellus also published newspapers for other downriver communities: The Allen Parker, Ecorse Advertiser, Southgate Sentinel, Taylor Tribune and Riverview Sentinel.^[4] In the 1950s, a two-story addition was constructed in the rear of the building, enlarging the space to 4,080 square feet (379 m²).^[5] Mellus also expanded operations into the next-door Pollack Jewellery Building.^[5] Mellus sold his newspaper chain to Panax Corp. in the early 1970s. The company remained in the building until 1986, when it merged with Heritage Newspapers.^[4] The building was sold by the Mellus family in 1994.^[5]

In 2009, the Mellus and the next-door Pollack were purchased by the Lincoln Park Downtown Development Authority for $93,000.^[6] The Mellus Building was demolished in May 2010; a small park is planned for the lot.^[6]

The Mellus Newspapers Building had simple but distinguishing Art Deco characteristics exemplifying the application of these to a small commercial building.^[2] The front facade was covered with white porcelain enamel panels, and the entryway was framed with curved glass block sections. Six steel casement windows faced the front.^[2]

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