The Smith Apartments was the first apartment building of its type to be built in the city of Benton Harbor, Michigan. This brick apartment building was built in 1923. Smith Apartments were constructed using iron, brick, and stone. Contractor E.L. Smith was the person who built these apartments. Smith Apartments contained six units equipped with sun parlors, telephone service, private store rooms, laundries, and other conveniences. These apartments were the first of its kind to have telephone service. The lot size was over 6,500 square feet. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/benton-harbor-news-palladium-jun-25-1930-p-4/)
By 1940, Smith Apartments were equipped with steam heating, 8 bedrooms, and 4 full bathrooms. Each unit had 3 different rooms. Some units had 4 rooms.
The exact year of when the Smith Apartments became abandoned is clearly unknown. What is known is that Zillow.com reported the Smith Apartments were sold for $35,000 in September 2005. Date of sale was 09/22/2005. (Ref: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/275-High-St-Benton-Harbor-MI-49022/120525586_zpid/)
Today Smith Apartments are abandoned and boarded up. Not many apartment buildings of this type exist in the city anymore. Of course not anyone can afford to buy this building. The continuing government shutdown highlights the fact that most Americans have little to no savings. (Ref: https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2019-01-11/stretched-thin-majority-of-americans-live-paycheck-to-paycheck)
The address for Smith Apartments is 275 High Street, Benton Harbor, Michigan, US 49022.
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