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Piano; Lee Plaza Hotel
Piano; Lee Plaza Ballroom
Silver gelatin lith print

David Maraniss wrote a book about the decline of Detroit titled, Once in a Great City. The book chronicles the injuries -- some self-inflicted, others brought about by circumstances beyond the control of Detroiters -- that led to the decline of what was once a truly "Great City."

The Lee Plaza Hotel is just one of many vestiges that stand in mute testimony to what Detroit once was, less than a mile down Grand Boulevard from the house where Motown Records was born.
No music has been heard in the ballroom of this once beautiful building for very many years; the only instrument left is this crippled piano.

After I made this photograph I learned that vandals had completely destroyed what was left of the piano, so I am glad that got there first.