| Frederic M. Sibley Lumber Company Office Building | |
| Location: | 6460 Kercheval Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
| Coordinates: | 42.3531°N -83.0136°W |
| Built: | 1917 |
| Architect: | Baxter, O'Dell & Halprin |
| Architecture: | Classical Revival |
| Added: | April 4, 1991 |
| Area: | less than one acre |
| Refnum: | 91000329 |
| Designated Other1: | Michigan State Historic Site |
| Designated Other1 Date: | April 20, 1989 |
| Designated Other1 Num Position: | bottom |
The Frederic M. Sibley Lumber Company Office Building is an office building located at 6460 Kercheval Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1989 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The building is known for being the beginning of a major trailer manufacturing company.
Frederic M. Sibley was born in Detroit in late October, 1883.[1] As an adult, he joined his father's lumber company and acted as treasurer until his father's death in 1912, after which he assumed the presidency of the firm.[1] In 1922, the Sibley Lumber Company employed 400 people and was the second largest lumber firm in Detroit.[1]
Sibley married Mabel Bessenger in August 1910. They had five children: Josephine, Frederic Jr., Dorothy, Suzanne, and Joy.[1]
Sibley is also known for his cooperation with August Fruehauf in developing the first semi-trailers to haul lumber. Sibley, approached August Fruehauf, his blacksmith about modifying a wagon to transport an 18' boat. Sibley wanted to use his Model-T roadster rather than a slow moving horse and wagon. August Fruehauf and his partner, Otto Neumann took several days to devise a solution. They removed the back seat of the Model-T to support the front end of the wagon and fashioned a 5th wheel coupling to attach the wagon to the back of the automobile. August called it a semi-trailer. Sibley was impressed with the solution and ordered additional semi-trailers for his lumber company. Henry Ford canceled the warrantee on the modified Model T's. August Fruehauf turned this invention into a goldmine.[2] The Fruehauf Corporation manufactured these trailers for many years afterward.[3]
The Frederic M. Sibley Lumber Company Office Building was constructed in a Neo-Classical style in 1925.[4] The two-story building is red brick, trimmed with limestone, and the legend "F. M. Sibley Lumber Co." is carved in the limestone lintel above the entrance.[4] The façade is divided into eleven bays, each separated by a brick pillar.[3] Rectangular transoms within each bay separate the two stories.[3] Four limestone pilasters with Corinthian capitals surround the entrance, flanked by two vertical recessed lights.[5]