Foundations in the Past ~ Dedicated to the Future
Detroit was a horse and buggy town when German immigrant Frank Hesse started a new business, the Detroit Cornice & Slate Company in 1888.
Detroit Cornice & Slate is still around, still in the Hesse family, and still installing slate and tile roofs the old-fashioned way. It is in its' fourth generation of Hesse family management .... with the fifth generation already active in the firm.
Detroit Cornice & Slate moved to Ferndale in 1972 leaving behind an elaborate three-story building - with absolutely no parking or storage - at St. Antoine and Lafayette in Detroit. The building was designed by the Architect Harry Rill in 1897. The entire front facade is of galvanized steel manufactured by the company. The building was declared an official historical landmark in 1972.
The ability of the company to perform on multi-dimensional projects has played a pivotal role in its' longevity. From securing a spire-topping angel's wings to reworking a butterfly's new home at the zoo, the diverse talent of the company meets the challenge.
We at Detroit Cornice & Slate Co. invite you to travel through the years with us on our website and experience a few of the many contracts completed with pride by our firm.
