Cobbs and Mitchell Building
The Cobbs and Mitchell Building is a one-story office building on East Chapin Street in Cadillac, constructed in the early 1900s using brick and limestone. It features a central entrance with decorative molding, three sections on each side, and a limestone base that rises several feet above ground level.
The building was completed in 1907 and served as the main office for the Cobbs & Mitchell Company, which sold lumber and woodworking products. After 1938, the Michigan State Highway Department purchased it and used it as a local office for managing road projects in northern Michigan for several decades.
The building served as headquarters for a major lumber company and demonstrates the importance of the timber industry to Cadillac in the early 1900s. The interior features nine types of local wood including elm, maple, and oak, reflecting the region's craftsmanship tradition.
The building is easy to spot from the street with its brick walls, large windows, and limestone base along East Chapin Street. Access to the interior may be limited since it operates as an office building, but special events or open house days offer visitors opportunities to see the restored interiors.
The building was designed by George D. Mason, a renowned Detroit architect who used Classical Revival style to convey pride and solidity. After decades of use by the Highway Department, a private developer named Robb Munger purchased and carefully restored it, adding modern amenities like an elevator while preserving the original craftsmanship inside.
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