April’s I Spy is “part of the decorative terracotta parapet on the Marchese Brothers Building,” writes Alice Ralph. Located at “319-321 S. Main [it’s] also known as the historic Whitker Building,” says Eric Sobocinski. “It was designed and built by Ann Arbor architect Hermann Pipp in 1925,” writes David Karl. Pipp “was also the architect for the Nickels Arcade.”

Original owners “Demetrio and Anthony Marchese housed their tailoring shop on the first floor,” says Silvia Ruiz, but sold the building to Henry Whitker during the Depression. “It’s part of what I always thought of as the Grinnell’s Building,” writes Tom Haug, referring to the music and appliance store that occupied the space from 1936 to 1975. Dan Romanchik notes that it’s currently home to Ayla women’s clothing and the Carol Roeda Studio.

Whatever you call it, the striking Gothic-influenced structure makes an impression. “Very cool facade,” writes Bob Maddox. “I recognized it instantly as one of the sketches I did as an architecture student decades ago,” shares Ralph. It “was sunlit at the time, rather joyous.” “This building ticks all the boxes in my fascination with Ann Arbor’s downtown architecture,” continues Karl. “It’s just beautiful.”

We received 22 correct entries in April. Our random drawing winner, Betsy Williams, will enjoy her $25 gift certificate at … Betsy, get in touch, please!

To enter this month’s contest, use the clue and photo on the May Back Page and send your guess to backpage@aaobserver.com.