View of Owen building; Jordan tailor on ground level. Printed on front: "The trussed concrete building, corner Wayne St. and Lafayette Boulevard. This building, the first office building of concrete construction in Detroit, is the property of the John Owen estate, by whom it was erected. It is situated on the northeast corner of Lafayette Boulevard and Wayne Street, and consists of eight floors and a basement. It was completed in September 1907, and has proved to be most satisfactory both from a commercial and a construction standpoint. The property on which the building is located came into the possession of John Owen, Sr., in 1839 and has been held by the Owen family for 70 years. On this page are presented the business announcements of the more prominent occupants of the building." Handwritten on front: "S 8-14-1909." Printed on back: "Trussed concrete building, a model office building, planned and built in a most modern way. Fires cannot harm this building, which is consturcted entirely according to the Kahn System of reinforced concrete -- generally recognized as the best method of fireproofing. The walls are made of handsome glazed brick -- the interior is finished in oak. The large expanse of window space makes all the offices particularly bright and cheerful. The sales and business of the Trussed Concrete Steel Co., who control the Kahn System of Reinforced Concrete, occupy two and one-half floors. The remainder of the building has been subdivided into a number of desirable offices for renting purposes. In constructing a building with Kahn System of Reinforced Concrete a temporary framework of wood is built to carry the plastic concrete. The reinforcement is set in place, the concrete poured and allowed to age a sufficient time when the forms are removed. The building is thus a monolith of concrete, solid as rock. It cannot burn and grows stronger with age. The Trussed Concrete Building was built during the winter time, proving conclusively that concrete work can be successfully carried on under the most severe weather conditions."
