Bones Found In Walls Of Old Detroit Hotel
DETROIT (WWJ) - Several bones were found inside the walls of an old Detroit hotel during a renovation project to turn the downtown building into upscale apartments.
The discovery was made Thursday morning at The Ashley, formerly known as the Milner Hotel, on Centre Street near John R Street.
The bones were apparently discovered by construction crews who were demolishing walls on the building's first floor.
A statement from the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office said tests on the bones show they are not human.
Originally opened as the Henry Clay Hotel in 1917, the nine-story building was renamed the Milner Hotel during the 1930's and operated as such until the doors closed in October 2012. It was the oldest continuously operated hotel in Detroit's history.
Plans for renovation project include more than 60 high-end residences, along with retail space on the first and second floors. The Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $1 million grant for the project earlier this year.
The Ashley is located within walking distance of many popular downtown destinations, including Comerica Park, Ford Field, Fox Theater and Detroit Opera House.