My families funeral home. William R Hamilton Co.Most of the comments are correct. Houdini was placed in his bronze prop casket for shipment via train back to NY. This site was closed in 1980. It was a private residence when my great grandfather bought it in the Nineteens. They handle all the prominent Detroit residents. When the Fords passed, they would deliver a fleet of Lincoln’s for the funeral then take them back. The Hamilton Co. used Packards for limos and hearses. They performed the very first automotive funeral procession in the US using a Grabowski panel truck around 191O.
There used to be a hearse in the garage as well as a Detroit Police Department paddy wagon - which was a horse drawn sled from the 1800s. There was also a Louis Comfort Tiffany skylight before the place fell. Not just Harry Houdini, but Henry Ford, Edsel Ford and Clara Ford were prepared for burial here. Should have been on the The National Register of Historic Places.
The addition was built in 1930, so Houdini (who died in 1926) would have been embalmed in the original house part of the funeral home, probably the embalming room in the basement. The one on the second floor looks like it is probably in the addition.
Having worked in funeral homes the pink tiled rooms were definitely the embalming/preparation rooms. The embalming table would have been positioned over the large white flush sink. The plumbing above connects to the aspirator and embalming machine. The white tiled room in the basement was probably the original embalming room prior to the addition. It’s the old Hamilton Funeral Home in Detroit.
I'd wager that Houdini was more likely embalmed in the basement room. Although pink tiles certainly existed well beforehand, entire rooms of pink tiled walls weren't really a thing until the 1940s. Houdini died in 1926. My guess would be that the original embalming room was the one in the basement and the 2nd pink-tiled embalming room was outfitted after 1940. Whether it was a 2nd embalming room or took the place of the 1st one might be able to be found out if any records from the funeral home still exist. Another possibility if you really wanted to go down that rabbit hole would be to look up construction permits for that address. My guess is that everything would have been done above board and special plumbing would have needed to be installed. But these are just conjectures on my part based on historical design trends.
Seeing as how the entire property was abandoned the pianos are the least of the concern. Unless they’re Steinway or Baldwins they are not worth moving and restoring
I retired from the firehouse next door. The name of the funeral home was Harris Funeral home which was later turned into a music and dance studio. Houdini was embalmed in the basement where the embalming took place. the bodies were then taken to the second floor where the dressing and makeup was applied. When I was there the embalming table was still there. and some of the makeup was still there. Houdini was picked up and sent to New York. The funeral home received the body from Grace Hospital. Date of death was 10/31/26 and date of burial was 11/01/26. I also have a copy of his death certificate. As fate would have it I now in the funeral business in Cookeville Tn.
My family has been in the funeral business since 1867. The pink tiles are from the 1940's as is the sink. The basement sink and white tiles is what you would see in a 1920's embalming room. We have photos.
This building probably started out as a private home and the tiled room in the basement would have been the kitchen. The small stairway would have been for the servants to deliver the food to the dining room on the main floor. Great video!
Great great video. I love all the big grand rooms. I would like to have seen this place from the outside just to get an idea. Great video and i subscribed.😊
@ 7:57 of the video really creepy album cover ( it looks like a album cover ) That would defiantly make me turn right around and get out of there as quickly as possible. Great work as usual.
I worked there as a piano teacher in the middle of 1990th. It is heartbreaking to see Art Center Music school abandoned with all of the beautiful pianos, records, music sheets. The building has been in a horrible condition for at least twenty years.
Very fascinating old place! I wondering where the "lay out" room was? This place has a lot of history behind it...should be restored back to the funeral home.
I would probably guess if anything Harry Houdini was embombed in the basement area the second floor being with the pink tiles would have been probably done in the 50s.... Houdini died in 1926.... Stunningly Gorgeous building.... Hopefully it can still be saved instead of just rotting away😢
Love the window seat and book case on the 2nd floor, so many musical instruments and I hate to see all those records just thrown around. Embalming room with a piano - different. Sure are lots of rooms!! Always thought it would be nice to have a room with a skylight. Super video.
Wild. Thank you for doing this. Unfortunately, I don't know which of those rooms Houdini was embalmed in. I do have a recording of a 1988 interview with one of his embalmers. (I've posted it to my Patreon.) There were five of them. Interestingly, he said they all lived in a dormitory on the top floor. At one point he does mention a drain for the water to run off after washing the body. You did capture a drain like that on the second floor room. But other than that, no clues. BTW, you should wear a hard hat or a bicycle helmet when doing these videos. Those ceilings look like they could have collapsed on you at any time! Wonder how much longer this building will stand? Anyway, thanks again!
My grandfather was Julius Tannen. He was a vaudeville headliner that was friends with Harry. He signed a book that he had written called, "A Magician Among the Spirits." Harry wrote on the first page, "My mind is the key that sets me free." Very interesting man that died way too young.
After the property was sold by the funeral home, it was purchase by Arts Center Music School who provided music instruction to the children of low and moderate-income families.
That’s actually not correct. An embalming room can be on any level of the funeral home. But each state & OSHA have requirements as to plumbing, ventilation , sanitation, etc. Location can be anywhere that is private & away from the public.
As a retired embalmer, the year houdini died my guess is the old room in the basement is it ! At that time most were in the basement and had elevators later we're moved main floor for ease and moderation of prep rooms at the time. Ours did and it was over 150 yo.
I read a biography of Harry Houdini very detailed and large book it mentions how he died but no details about the autopsy or in blaming the remains of Mr.Houdini
Pianos and organs in a funeral home are not uncommon. Music is often played during services for the deceased. Those rooms appear to be where individual viewing services would have been held. Cool video.
Very cool -- glad you're doing this -- but how do you not get popped for B&E, since your videos are public? I will say, you seem very respectful of the properties, so maybe that makes the difference.
Houdini was embalmed in the first room.. 100% …first you walked through the dressing and cosmetics area with all the cabinets on the walls then into the actual embalming room. what looks like a cross between a toilet and a very low sink in the corner is referred to a slop sink..bodily fluids and water drains there. ..it would be located at the foot of the embalming table…hoses would have been connected to the plumbing on the wall. I didn’t see any of that in the second room down stairs. the drain on the floor was just for mopping the floor and general cleaning. IMHO..licensed embalmer for 35 years. Great video
Originally embalming room were in the basement or very near the garage entrance remodeling could been done and the embalming room was moved old funeral homes were often expanded and remodeled
I find it unusual that Houdini was embalmed. The Jewish funeral consists of a burial, also known as an interment. Cremation is forbidden. Burial is considered to allow the body to decompose naturally, therefore embalming is forbidden. Burial is intended to take place in as short an interval of time after death as possible. Mind you, he had to be shipped to New York so embalming was likely needed.
Just as you say, sir. I also would have "no idea" which of the two rooms that Houdin was embalmed in. I am guessing the one in the basement, but I have no way to know, what do you think?
My families funeral home. William R Hamilton Co.Most of the comments are correct. Houdini was placed in his bronze prop casket for shipment via train back to NY. This site was closed in 1980. It was a private residence when my great grandfather bought it in the Nineteens. They handle all the prominent Detroit residents. When the Fords passed, they would deliver a fleet of Lincoln’s for the funeral then take them back. The Hamilton Co. used Packards for limos and hearses. They performed the very first automotive funeral procession in the US using a Grabowski panel truck around 191O.
Wow, what a piece of history! Thanks so much
Wow thank you for sharing. That's very interesting knowledge
Omg such a beautiful place! Can it be put on the National Registry? Really would like to see it fixed up.
Thank you for the history lesson, I'm from S.W Detroit, born and raised and can't get enough of Detroit history, thank you!
There used to be a hearse in the garage as well as a Detroit Police Department paddy wagon - which was a horse drawn sled from the 1800s. There was also a Louis Comfort Tiffany skylight before the place fell. Not just Harry Houdini, but Henry Ford, Edsel Ford and Clara Ford were prepared for burial here. Should have been on the The National Register of Historic Places.
WOW, SO MUCH HISTORY! Thank you
The addition was built in 1930, so Houdini (who died in 1926) would have been embalmed in the original house part of the funeral home, probably the embalming room in the basement. The one on the second floor looks like it is probably in the addition.
Having worked in funeral homes the pink tiled rooms were definitely the embalming/preparation rooms. The embalming table would have been positioned over the large white flush sink. The plumbing above connects to the aspirator and embalming machine. The white tiled room in the basement was probably the original embalming room prior to the addition. It’s the old Hamilton Funeral Home in Detroit.
I'd wager that Houdini was more likely embalmed in the basement room. Although pink tiles certainly existed well beforehand, entire rooms of pink tiled walls weren't really a thing until the 1940s. Houdini died in 1926.
My guess would be that the original embalming room was the one in the basement and the 2nd pink-tiled embalming room was outfitted after 1940.
Whether it was a 2nd embalming room or took the place of the 1st one might be able to be found out if any records from the funeral home still exist.
Another possibility if you really wanted to go down that rabbit hole would be to look up construction permits for that address. My guess is that everything would have been done above board and special plumbing would have needed to be installed.
But these are just conjectures on my part based on historical design trends.
Even now probably all of those pianos can still be saved and restored. As a musician I hate seeing such waste.
Especially that carved one.. so beautiful.
And many of those records could be saved too.
These pianos are making me cry
Seeing as how the entire property was abandoned the pianos are the least of the concern. Unless they’re Steinway or Baldwins they are not worth moving and restoring
As a music lover, my heart is broken seeing the pianos, sheet music and record albums destroyed. 😭😭
Great, historic explore! Thank you for treating those people with respect and kindness. These things can happen to anyone. ❤
It was the Arts Center Music School since 1981.
I retired from the firehouse next door. The name of the funeral home was Harris Funeral home which was later turned into a music and dance studio. Houdini was embalmed in the basement where the embalming took place. the bodies were then taken to the second floor where the dressing and makeup was applied. When I was there the embalming table was still there. and some of the makeup was still there. Houdini was picked up and sent to New York. The funeral home received the body from Grace Hospital. Date of death was 10/31/26 and date of burial was 11/01/26. I also have a copy of his death certificate. As fate would have it I now in the funeral business in Cookeville Tn.
wow, thanks so much for that insight!! I really do appreciate it
@@rogerreeves7969 William R Hamilton Co was the name, not Harris.
My family has been in the funeral business since 1867. The pink tiles are from the 1940's as is the sink. The basement sink and white tiles is what you would see in a 1920's embalming room. We have photos.
Houdini died in 1926........so this funeral home is ancient! Great video!
Thanks, Houdini was a cool dude!
It was the Art Center Music School which closed in the late 1990s.
Fabulous! I Loved 😍 ♥️ The First Piano 🎹 The Best With The Designs On The Sides!
It's very sad, that this once beautiful structure is very like beyond repair, I can't imagine the cost to renovate it,
Was once a Classy Joint ! Regarding the stairwell buried under old records? My 1st thought: "The Day the Music Died" !
@ 9:37 there is an orb seen in mirror,top right, as you say “what’s up guys”
Cool video!
Thanks!
Liked and subscribed
What a wast of these Beautiful pianos. Very sad 😔 Natural decay & no graffiti great place great video! 👍🏽
Very interesting, I love history such as this. In its day, this must have been a beautiful building.
This building probably started out as a private home and the tiled room in the basement would have been the kitchen. The small stairway would have been for the servants to deliver the food to the dining room on the main floor. Great video!
Thanks for the info
I love these videos.My uncle was a mortician keep them coming.
Great great video. I love all the big grand rooms. I would like to have seen this place from the outside just to get an idea.
Great video and i subscribed.😊
thanks so much
@ 7:57 of the video really creepy album cover ( it looks like a album cover ) That would defiantly make me turn right around and get out of there as quickly as possible. Great work as usual.
My thoughts exactly
It is. Chadwick Symphonic Sketches from around 1958. Modern classical from early 20th century. The cover art is a lttile off putting.
Very fascinating, and your tour is very interesting and well presented, this place is huge!
Thank you for posting this great video! Liked and subscribed.😊
Thanks for subscribing!
I worked there as a piano teacher in the middle of 1990th. It is heartbreaking to see Art Center Music school abandoned with all of the beautiful pianos, records, music sheets. The building has been in a horrible condition for at least twenty years.
Wow! What a cool piece of history, thanks for sharing
Very fascinating old place! I wondering where the "lay out" room was? This place has a lot of history behind it...should be restored back to the funeral home.
I would probably guess if anything Harry Houdini was
embombed in the basement area the second floor being with the pink tiles would have been probably done in the 50s.... Houdini died in 1926.... Stunningly Gorgeous building.... Hopefully it can still be saved instead of just rotting away😢
You're right, the second floor is probably from a later renovation.
That place was also a part of the underground railroad.
Read that auto pioneer Henry Ford and his son Edsel were embalmed there also.
Wow! What a place! Lots of rooms! Thank you for showing us!
Love the window seat and book case on the 2nd floor, so many musical instruments and I hate to see all those records just thrown around. Embalming room with a piano - different. Sure are lots of rooms!! Always thought it would be nice to have a room with a skylight. Super video.
Wild. Thank you for doing this. Unfortunately, I don't know which of those rooms Houdini was embalmed in. I do have a recording of a 1988 interview with one of his embalmers. (I've posted it to my Patreon.) There were five of them. Interestingly, he said they all lived in a dormitory on the top floor. At one point he does mention a drain for the water to run off after washing the body. You did capture a drain like that on the second floor room. But other than that, no clues. BTW, you should wear a hard hat or a bicycle helmet when doing these videos. Those ceilings look like they could have collapsed on you at any time! Wonder how much longer this building will stand? Anyway, thanks again!
Oh, and yes, this did become a music school, as you suspected.
My grandfather was Julius Tannen. He was a vaudeville headliner that was friends with Harry. He signed a book that he had written called, "A Magician Among the Spirits." Harry wrote on the first page, "My mind is the key that sets me free." Very interesting man that died way too young.
Awesome, thank you for sharing with us. Well done! ❤🎉
After the property was sold by the funeral home, it was purchase by Arts Center Music School who provided music instruction to the children of low and moderate-income families.
Very cool 😎👍 place beautiful architecture love it nice find
This place was awesome. Thanks for taking us along. 😊
Thanks for coming
Very unique to see. Probably turned into an art and music school after. Very cool. Thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it
It was home to the Art Centre Music School for decades, all the way into the 2000's.
Even with the decay this is still a beautiful place.
Enjoyed watching your video. Thank you for sharing this
Creepy. the records in the doorway/stairway... so weird. (The beautiful room really is beautiful)
awesome place. Than You for taking me.
Very interesting video. Most states require the prep room to be at street level or higher, so the drainage does not rely on a pump to dispose of it.
That’s actually not correct. An embalming room can be on any level of the funeral home. But each state & OSHA have requirements as to plumbing, ventilation , sanitation, etc. Location can be anywhere that is private & away from the public.
Awesome video!! As always, thanks for sharing!
The greenery in the skylight is beautiful! Such a nice room! Beautiful architecture!!
Thanks for watching!
Very beautiful windows in there when this place was built, this was a pretty booming town
This is fantastic 😍
Great vid! Fascinating tour! All that old vinyl though 😩
Those square windows pains with wood god is that beautiful
That place has got to be haunted … you couldn’t pay me to go there …perfect for Halloween
Beautiful pianos and fireplaces❤
wow that is amazing. I would love to have been there to see that . stayed to the end . ❤❤❤ stay safe love ya
Great work sir and thank you for zero music it was great
You are welcome
Thanks for awesome video I enjoyed watching
Thanks for the visit
As a retired embalmer, the year houdini died my guess is the old room in the basement is it ! At that time most were in the basement and had elevators later we're moved main floor for ease and moderation of prep rooms at the time. Ours did and it was over 150 yo.
Thanks for that!!
Awesome one Dave!!!
That place is huge.
Just kills me to see all these piano's and organs in the building. Wish they had been donated to children's homes or children's hospital
In old Funeral Homes the prep room was in the basement, I’m an old Undertaker from the early 70s
Not sure I'd want to sleep there! It would be creepy for sure!
That would creep me out squatters in a funeral home
What a find Dave. If the walls could talk, what would they tell us. Kinda creepy here knowing that it is occupied. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I read a biography of Harry Houdini very detailed and large book it mentions how he died but no details about the autopsy or in blaming the remains of Mr.Houdini
Pianos and organs in a funeral home are not uncommon. Music is often played during services for the deceased. Those rooms appear to be where individual viewing services would have been held. Cool video.
Those are from the music school, not the funeral home. However, the funeral home did have a few badass old Leslie organ speaker systems in the chapel.
From stinkers to goldmines All your videos are Special or I wouldn’t be a subscriber!❤
Nice abandoned building and kind of you to be respectful towards the homeless
great video...thanks for sharing...
You're very welcome
Yes still here from Detroit
I believe it was the one in the basement. My uncle is a mortician, and this looks to be about right. My gut says the basement
Is there any records lefted behind that would be a way to find out more about him
Those records were moved to the new location in a suburb north of Detroit. Having worked for that firm I know they were in storage there.
Very cool -- glad you're doing this -- but how do you not get popped for B&E, since your videos are public? I will say, you seem very respectful of the properties, so maybe that makes the difference.
I saw the orb! Thanks for not using music!
Wow that's great to see. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Hurts my heart too. I would have loved to see what the albums and books were.
Houdini was embalmed in the first room.. 100% …first you walked through the dressing and cosmetics area with all the cabinets on the walls then into the actual embalming room. what looks like a cross between a toilet and a very low sink in the corner is referred to a slop sink..bodily fluids and water drains there. ..it would be located at the foot of the embalming table…hoses would have been connected to the plumbing on the wall. I didn’t see any of that in the second room down stairs. the drain on the floor was just for mopping the floor and general cleaning. IMHO..licensed embalmer for 35 years. Great video
Originally embalming room were in the basement or very near the garage entrance remodeling could been done and the embalming room was moved old funeral homes were often expanded and remodeled
Thanks for the insight, it's great to hear from a professional!
Thus funeral home would make a lovely bed and breakfast or hotel great video.
lol if it was in a demilitarized zone
And very historic
That book shelf has hinges on it meaning it opens up like a secret door and who knows what’s behind it
Is there a septic system to receive the bodily fluids?
Phenomenal funeral home
I find it unusual that Houdini was embalmed. The Jewish funeral consists of a burial, also known as an interment. Cremation is forbidden. Burial is considered to allow the body to decompose naturally, therefore embalming is forbidden. Burial is intended to take place in as short an interval of time after death as possible. Mind you, he had to be shipped to New York so embalming was likely needed.
This is very cool love it
It’s not “their home” they are squatters and have no rights to that property
Too true!
Back when this funeral home was built it would have had pianos and organs to play music for the visitors. Today we have sound systems instead.
I am a musician. It drives me nuts that the pianos and organs were just abandoned. They could have auctioned those off. They were good instruments.
Unless they were Steinways or Baldwins they’re probably not worth moving. Pianos are practically given away because they’re a nightmare to move.
Wow 😮
Just as you say, sir. I also would have "no idea" which of the two rooms that Houdin was embalmed in. I am guessing the one in the basement, but I have no way to know, what do you think?
Is this home for sale?
Hit subscribed. This dude is right on .
I am surprised no freezers, for the Bodies
Shouldn't you step on sides of the stairs near the side supports
Great video thanks
🎵 Abra abracadabra 🎵
AND it's in Detroit too!
@@Freaktography that's actually amazing!
I wanna each out and grab ya
I would take the pianos and organs and restore them and put them in a history museum
Great idea and a spectacular waste of money!
do you know when it closed?
how would anyone know what room he was embalmed in.😮😮
Actually creepy lol. I enjoyed it 😮
This is awesome
Interesting and neat
Very!
Was once gorgeous n pianos too
Ask Houdini which room he was in. 😂
A
There weren’t any long tables still left behind, so too hard to guess which room was used!