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.
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!
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!
@ 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It would not of been a "good job" to embalm Harry Houdini, The smell of removing the rotted material from his abdomen would of been stomach turning... Harry had peritonitis and basically rotted to death from the inside out... To properly embalm Harry they would of had to use a trocar to suck out all the pus, serous fluid, blood and other materials from his abdomen. I am not a embalming technician but I do know a thing or two about medicine and infection which was the ultimate end of Houdini...
@@JamesMoore-wy2ud you're calling someone a jerk, yet would you act any differently if that was your property and you discovered (2) homeless people trespassing on your land?? I bet you would have picked up your phone and called the police in a heart beat. As far as you know, they may have been criminals, rapists, drug addicts, etc. who committed crimes to get their fix against the innocent or whatever. Maybe you shouldn't judge.
I would wear a respirator in those places due to black mold and if their is any of the embalming chemicals still there those are highly carcinogenic!!!!!!
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.
As a music lover, my heart is broken seeing the pianos, sheet music and record albums destroyed. 😭😭
It was the Arts Center Music School since 1981.
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.
Great, historic explore! Thank you for treating those people with respect and kindness. These things can happen to anyone. ❤
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.
Nice abandoned building and kind of you to be respectful towards the homeless
Fabulous! I Loved 😍 ♥️ The First Piano 🎹 The Best With The Designs On The Sides!
I love these videos.My uncle was a mortician keep them coming.
Awesome, thank you for sharing with us. Well done! ❤🎉❤❤❤
U gave em a pack of smokes.. good job guy
This place was awesome. Thanks for taking us along. 😊
Thanks for coming
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
great video...thanks for sharing...
You're very welcome
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.
awesome place. Than You for taking me.
@ 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.
This is fantastic 😍
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.
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 one Dave!!!
Those square windows pains with wood god is that beautiful
It was the Art Center Music School which closed in the late 1990s.
Creepy. the records in the doorway/stairway... so weird. (The beautiful room really is beautiful)
Enjoyed watching your video. Thank you for sharing this
Was once a Classy Joint ! Regarding the stairwell buried under old records? My 1st thought: "The Day the Music Died" !
Very beautiful windows in there when this place was built, this was a pretty booming town
@ 9:37 there is an orb seen in mirror,top right, as you say “what’s up guys”
Cool video!
Thanks!
Liked and subscribed
Thus funeral home would make a lovely bed and breakfast or hotel great video.
Very cool 😎👍 place beautiful architecture love it nice find
wow that is amazing. I would love to have been there to see that . stayed to the end . ❤❤❤ stay safe love ya
Awesome video!! As always, thanks for sharing!
The greenery in the skylight is beautiful! Such a nice room! Beautiful architecture!!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for awesome video I enjoyed watching
Thanks for the visit
Beautiful pianos and fireplaces❤
Even with the decay this is still a beautiful place.
Not sure I'd want to sleep there! It would be creepy for sure!
Read that auto pioneer Henry Ford and his son Edsel were embalmed there also.
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.
Great vid! Fascinating tour! All that old vinyl though 😩
Great work sir and thank you for zero music it was great
You are welcome
Interesting and neat
Very!
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
Ask Houdini which room he was in. 😂
A
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.
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.
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 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.
🎵 Abra abracadabra 🎵
AND it's in Detroit too!
@@Freaktography that's actually amazing!
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!!
What a find Dave. If the walls could talk, what would they tell us. Kinda creepy here knowing that it is occupied. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
And very historic
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.
You did a good thing bye giving the homeless people there privacy.
That place is huge.
This is awesome
WTF, who be livid on that second floor?…gurlll…I ain’t playin’…
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
From stinkers to goldmines All your videos are Special or I wouldn’t be a subscriber!❤
That place has got to be haunted … you couldn’t pay me to go there …perfect for Halloween
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 would take the pianos and organs and restore them and put them in a history museum
Actually creepy lol. I enjoyed it 😮
Cool video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Nope. You couldn't pay me. The creepiest was all of the pianos.
yes i am still with you, i am really lovin it, but it creeps me out bcuz folks are living there
Yes
"The musical funeral home"
wow..that nice place..
Thanks for visiting
do you know when it closed?
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.
It is well known in Detroit -
Yes a school for performing arts! Dance I believe
8:48 orb
Very kool
how would anyone know what room he was embalmed in.😮😮
That was nice of you to offer your cigarettes to them. Great explore!!
Yes it was!
There weren’t any long tables still left behind, so too hard to guess which room was used!
What kind of music book
Is that
Shouldn't you step on sides of the stairs near the side supports
Come on Guys and Gals, let;s get Dave over 100K "Subscribe" He has a great channel always worth watching...
Pilease
DIggitiase those records
Definitely interesting 🤔 The creepy picture on the counter in the first embalming room🫣
What a shame. Can imagine it was beautiful back in the day. When did this place turn into h*ll??
It’s not “their home” they are squatters and have no rights to that property
jt looks like the old mansion in staten island
Hst was a very large funersl home.
No, not here. Gone.
How do you know that Harry was even brought to this funeral home? and who would know which room he was embalmed in?
You're answer is in the Wild About Harry blog.
I went to the Hamilton Funeral Home in Birmingham and they let me view the records first hand. It is absolutely a true and easily verifiable story.
@@detroitfunk313Yep, having worked for this firm I saw all those records.
It would not of been a "good job" to embalm Harry Houdini, The smell of removing the rotted material from his abdomen would of been stomach turning... Harry had peritonitis and basically rotted to death from the inside out... To properly embalm Harry they would of had to use a trocar to suck out all the pus, serous fluid, blood and other materials from his abdomen. I am not a embalming technician but I do know a thing or two about medicine and infection which was the ultimate end of Houdini...
Oh god that sounds horrible
I’ve been embalming bodies for 40 years and that’s not quite how it goes…..
Eerie
Gives me the creeps
its not there it home those homeless people belongs to the state its threre home
Yeah right
I saw zero evidence that homeless people live there.
That's because I,didn't film them or their living quarters. They had 2 rooms on the 2nd floor
lol
Btw I gave your video a thumb down
why do you have to respect them if they're homeless and they're squatting in a building they don't own
Judge not least you be judged for having no compassion for another human being who is in a bad life situation. You sound like a jerk....😢
@@JamesMoore-wy2ud you're calling someone a jerk, yet would you act any differently if that was your property and you discovered (2) homeless people trespassing on your land?? I bet you would have picked up your phone and called the police in a heart beat. As far as you know, they may have been criminals, rapists, drug addicts, etc. who committed crimes to get their fix against the innocent or whatever. Maybe you shouldn't judge.
All American funeral homes are always out dated and shabby
I would wear a respirator in those places due to black mold and if their is any of the embalming chemicals still there those are highly carcinogenic!!!!!!