St. Clair Shores in Macomb County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

the Davis Block

Northeast corner of Harper Avenue & 11 Mile Road

— Historical Landmark —

the Davis Block Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 19, 2025

1. the Davis Block Marker

Inscription.

the Davis Block. Northeast corner of Harper Avenue and 11 Mile Road. , The Davis Block was located at the northeast corner of Eleven Mile Road and Harper Avenue. It was one of the city's bustling retail centers by the mid-1920s. Dan Davis, for whom the block was named, was a real-estate developer with a pioneering spirit. In this era, Lake Township was a series of rambling farmlands and scattered summer resort cottages along the lake. , , In 1916, Davis became actively engaged in promoting the Stanley Park subdivision. By the fall of 1922, he and Mrs. Davis decided to move to Lake Township and built a very fine home on Town Hall Road (Eleven Mile) and Florence Avenue. Mr. Davis played an integral role in the formation of the village of St. Clair Shores and was elected the second president of the village. In 1925, Davis constructed a block of stores. Six establishments were occupied by 1926. , , The village offices of St. Clair Shores were once located within the Davis Block, along with many different small businesses. The two-story structure stretched along Harper and continued around the corner onto Eleven Mile Road. A variety of services were offered by businesses as well as local government. Two early St. Clair Shores businesses, Ralph's grocery and the Downing drugstore, were tenants during the Davis block era. Other businesses of the Davis Block included the Davis Service Station, Sid Read's Drug Store, Charles Vornberger's Hardware and Mrs. Nelson's Dry Goods. A stand-alone building housed Parson's Garage. Along the outer edge of the Eleven Mile Road structure were gas pumps, a pit for oil changes as well as an ice house. , , By the middle of the 1960s, the Davis Block had been demolished. A new Kroger supermarket was constructed on the site in 1966. In 1976, Dale's Drugs took over the building. Arbor Drugs became the new occupants in 1985. As of 2015, a CVS Pharmacy exists at the location. , , Bottom image caption: Graphic representation of the corner as it would have appeared in 1966 and its current appearance in 2015.

The Davis Block was located at the northeast corner of Eleven Mile Road and Harper Avenue. It was one of the city's bustling retail centers by the mid-1920s. Dan Davis, for whom the block was named, was a real-estate developer with a pioneering spirit. In this era, Lake Township was a series of rambling farmlands and scattered summer resort cottages along the lake.

In 1916, Davis became actively engaged in promoting the Stanley Park subdivision. By the fall of 1922, he and Mrs. Davis decided to move to Lake Township and built a very fine home on Town Hall Road (Eleven Mile) and Florence Avenue. Mr. Davis played an integral role in the formation of the village of St. Clair Shores and was elected the second president of the village. In 1925, Davis constructed a block of stores. Six establishments were occupied by 1926.

The village offices of St. Clair Shores were once located within the Davis Block, along with many different small businesses. The two-story structure stretched along Harper and continued around the corner onto Eleven Mile Road. A variety of services were offered by businesses as well as local government. Two early St. Clair Shores businesses, Ralph's grocery and the Downing drugstore, were tenants during the Davis block era. Other businesses of the Davis Block included the Davis Service Station,

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Sid Read's Drug Store, Charles Vornberger's Hardware and Mrs. Nelson's Dry Goods. A stand-alone building housed Parson's Garage. Along the outer edge of the Eleven Mile Road structure were gas pumps, a pit for oil changes as well as an ice house.

By the middle of the 1960s, the Davis Block had been demolished. A new Kroger supermarket was constructed on the site in 1966. In 1976, Dale's Drugs took over the building. Arbor Drugs became the new occupants in 1985. As of 2015, a CVS Pharmacy exists at the location.

Bottom image caption: Graphic representation of the corner as it would have appeared in 1966 and its current appearance in 2015.

Erected by St. Clair Shores Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.

Location. 42° 29.765′ N, 82° 53.848′ W. Marker is in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, in Macomb County. It is at the intersection of Harper Avenue and East Eleven Mile Road, on the right when traveling north on Harper Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 27700 Harper Ave, Saint Clair Shores MI 48081, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lake Shore Church (approx. half a mile away); Lake St. Clair (Lac Sainte Claire) (approx.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 19, 2025

2. the Davis Block Marker

half a mile away); Selinsky-Green Log House (approx. 0.6 miles away); VFW Post 1146 Veterans Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away); Corporal Walter F. Bruce VFW Post 1146 (approx. ¾ mile away); St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); St. Clair Shores Police Officers Gordon McAllister and Harry Davis (approx. 1.2 miles away); Labadie Farm (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Clair Shores.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2025, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 105 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 23, 2025, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.