Preview: Detroit Memories

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Detroit Free Press is pleased to present Detroit Memories: The Early Years. It must be noted, however, that this unique pictorial history book would not have been possible without the generous contributions made by many people from virtually every corner of our community.

We are indebted, first of all, to those early area residents who captured their time—our history—in photographs, and provided a glimpse into their lives.

Secondly, all area residents are indebted to the many individuals who are committed to preserving our history in various libraries, historical societies, archives and personal collections throughout our community.

The following organizations have contributed greatly to this project: Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Detroit Historical Society Detroit Public Library Walter P. Reuther, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Chapter introductions contributed by Bill McGraw and Peter Gavrilovich

Copyright © 2017 by Detroit Free Press • All Rights Reserved • ISBN: 978-1-59725-759-6

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the copyright owner or the publisher.

Published by Pediment Publishing, a division of The Pediment Group, Inc. www.pediment.com. Printed in the United States of America.

FOREWORD

The photographs in Detroit Memories begin their deep documentation of the city during the Civil War, when Detroit was already more than 160 years old. It’s an understatement to say its most remarkable years were still to come.

From 1870 to 1940, roughly the period covered in the book, Detroit grew from 80,000 to 1.6 million residents. It exploded from a run-ofthe-mill Midwestern municipality into the premiere factory town on Earth, a mythic metropolis that attracted tourists from around the world to view its round-the-clock factories that employed tens of thousands of workers, many of them migrants from far and near who had poured into the city in search of new lives.

In the years immediately after the Civil War, Detroit was dominated by Anglo-Americans, with sizeable Irish and German communities. Its small factories made mainly cigars, carriages, and consumer products; the assembly of heavy industrial products, such as railroad cars, was just beginning. Precisely at the turn of the century, the auto industry got its start, growth accelerated further, and by 1920, Detroit had become a multi-ethnic melting pot, the nation’s fourth most populous city and, in the words of historian Olivier Zunz, “a total industrial landscape.” In 1916 alone, 16,489 buildings were constructed within the city limits.

You can see the epic mechanization reflected in the pages of Detroit Memories : the chaotic shift change at Henry Ford’s massive Highland Park plant in the $5-a-day era; women in leather aprons assembling engines at the Lincoln Motor Car Co. during World War I and a rough-and-ready crew from the Leland & Faulconer Manufacturing Co. in 1903.

The rapid industrialization took its toll. The French writer LouisFerdinand Celine described the dehumanization at the Ford Rouge

plant in the late 1920s. “We ourselves became machines, our flesh trembled in the furious din,” he wrote. In 1912, at the Packard Motor Car plant, African American workers in soiled clothing are shown as they perform the ghastly task of pouring scorching molten metal into molds. In another photo, Polish-immigrant parents stand next to a tiny white casket holding the remains of their baby girl. It was a city of fire and turmoil.

But even in a nose-to-the-grindstone city—as Detroit was in those years—life was hardly all about work. We see the Bremen family celebrating little George’s fifth birthday. David Kirsh is shown in his rowboat that is covered with pillows and outfitted with a record player on which Kirsh spun Enrico Caruso’s famous records to attract young women. In Clark Park in 1912, motorists played “auto polo” as if they were sitting on galloping horses.

We also see the sluggers on Detroit’s first championship baseball team, as well as scores of fans in front of the Big Money Social Club, celebrating a Joe Louis victory. We go inside Dominic Condino’s bar at East Forest and Mt. Elliott Avenue, and meet his waitress, Shirley “Boom Boom” Percowski. We see streetcars and double-decker buses and bicycles built for 10 and steaming locomotives leaving Michigan Central Station.

No one alive today experienced Detroit through the vast majority of time chronicled in Detroit Memories. Reading the book is a poignant experience because the city today is so vastly different. It is also a grand adventure.

—Bill McGraw, Detroit journalist and historian

VIEWS & STREET SCENES

“Detroit is El Dorado, 1927 model. It is staccato America. It is shockingly dynamic. It is unbelievably fine.”

Detroit had been growing steadily and rapidly with the opening of the Erie Canal in the mid-1820s. That was true of many Midwestern cities. Soon rail lines made travel and migration even more possible and Europeans, mostly English, German, and Irish, flocked to the United States—thousands to Detroit.

In the late 19th century, southern and eastern Europeans and Middle Easterners joined the Old Country exodus for America. Thousands, again, chose Detroit.

In size, the city would increase from about 10 square miles to its current 139 square miles by 1930.

In 1870, the census counted nearly 80,000 Detroiters. By 1930, that number would hit 1.57 million—a 20-fold increase. Easily a quarter of the population was foreign-born—nearly 30 percent by 1920, 25 percent by the 1930 census. Despite economic bumps, recessions and depressions, the city would quickly bounce back. And beginning in the early 1900s, Detroit would establish itself as the automobile center of the world.

Spurred by the birth of the auto industry, Detroit ignited from small town to big city.

The city grew so rapidly; assessed property values rose from $244 million in 1900 to $3.1 billion in 1926. Banks recorded savings of $88 million in

1914; by 1927, more than $380 million.

By 1927, a reporter for The New York Times penned these lines: “Detroit … is growth.”

“And cities that have acquired the habit of growth are slow to lose it.” Detroiters “are the most prosperous slice of average humanity that now exists or ever has existed.”

It was a cocky city, trading in superlatives—first, biggest, best. The Ambassador Bridge opened to traffic in 1929. For nearly two years the suspension bridge—1,850 feet between towers—was the longest in the world, until the George Washington Bridge opened in New York (3,500 feet) in 1931. The nearly mile-long Detroit-Windsor Tunnel opened November 3, 1930, just seven months after City Airport opened at Gratiot and Conner. In the 1920s, Detroit had the world’s largest motor plant, auto body plant, axle factory, windshield plant, wheel plant, auto light plant, tractor plant, adding machine factory, stove factory, drug and chemical plant, vacuum cleaner plant, paint works, electric iron factory, seed house, cigar factory, sports shoe factory, coin machine factory, and insulated wire factory.

It was a city of first and best. It was a city of boisterous nightlife and deeply rooted communities. A city with swagger and heart.

1930 would mark the end of Detroit’s phenomenal growth. The next 20 years will be more a plateau, a time of struggle and a time of victory.

OPPOSITE: Looking south over the intersection of Finley and Joseph Campau Streets in Poletown just blocks south of Hamtramck, circa 1935. On the west side of the street are Fritz’s Restaurant, a gas station, parking lot, Western Union Office, and a drugstore. Citi’s Service Gas stands on the east side of the street. COURTESY DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY / #2012.022.613

ABOVE: Detroit waterfront, circa 1915.

COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PRINTS & PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION, DETROIT PUBLISHING COMPANY COLLECTION / #LC-DIG-DET-4A23968

LEFT: Woodward Avenue, looking north from the Detroit River, July 4, 1921.

COURTESY KATHLEEN HEMMEN CARLSON

OPPOSITE: Bird’s-eye view of Detroit and the Detroit River, June 1925. COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #EB02F471

ABOVE: The SS Columbia on the Detroit River, circa 1903. Eight years after the Columbia was launched in 1902, it was joined by a little sister, the SS Ste. Claire. Together, the two steamers became known as simply the “Boblo boats.”

COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #DPA3870

ABOVE RIGHT: Michigan Central car ferry Detroit, circa 1902. This vessel was sold in 1910 following the opening of the Detroit River Tunnel.

COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PRINTS & PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION, DETROIT PUBLISHING COMPANY COLLECTION / #LC-DIG-DET-4A21998

RIGHT: Belle Isle ferry dock, Woodward Avenue, circa 1895.

COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PRINTS & PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION, DETROIT PUBLISHING COMPANY COLLECTION / #LC-DIG-DET-4A08007

OPPOSITE: Steamer Tashmoo picking up passengers, circa 1901. This paddle-wheeler was built by the Detroit Shipbuilding Company in Wyandotte and launched December 31, 1899. She ran between Detroit and Port Huron and made several daily stops at Tashmoo Park.

COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PRINTS & PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION, DETROIT PUBLISHING COMPANY COLLECTION / #LC-DIG-DET-4A20343

RIGHT: Eighth-grade graduating class and teachers at Cass School, 1894. Included in photo: Mr. Whitney, Lynn Pierce, William Robinson, Reunsler Scorel, Allie Gaines, Harry Poinier, Cyrus Rice, Farrand Holmes, Charles Land, Fred Johnson, Charles Grinnell, John Mahony, Charles Gibson, Fred Servis, Maude Strong, Mable Evans, Blanche Antisdel, May Soose, Maude Maslin, Bertha Blackmir, Maude Myrick, Grace Beattie, Winnie Moore, Louise Guinness, Zelda Palmer, Cora Kelley, Carrie Mills, Joe Warren, Clarence Linsell, Floyd Lee, Charles Ellis, Floyd Douglas, Clarence Wurzburg, Katharine Chapman, Jennie Hislop, Rena Bent, Mattie Barron, Millie Baker, Ethel Churchill, Grace Glidden, Chester Bristan, Albert McDonald, Edward Bloom, Arthur Bowles, Minnie Saxton, Maude Bowles, Jennie Bachman, Miss Brombley. COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #DPA3936

BELOW RIGHT: Wilkins School eighth-grade students, early 1900s. COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #DPA4072

OPPOSITE: Graduating class and teachers of Capitol Union High School sitting on front steps of their school building, which was damaged by fire on January 27, 1893. Front row, from left: Lottie England, Isodore Hill, Theo Lyster, Jacob Freund, Charles O. Cook, Freeman Field, Dean, Alonzo Clark, Allen Zacharias, William Brown, unidentified, Miss Alice Lyons (botany), unidentified. Second row: Irene Bateman Coleman, Louise Gibbs, unidentified, Bell Krolik, M. Agnes Burton, Mary Oliver, Fannie Foster, Maude Yost, unidentified, unidentified, Eleanor Smith, Webster Cook (11th grade principal), Mr. Adams (physics). Third row: Miss Hopkins (librarian), Gertrude Seeley Hill, Edith Yendell, Miss Miner (Latin), Elizabeth Bishop, Susan Patterson, Florence Wilson, Frieda McLean, Emily Hinds, unidentified, unidentified. Fourth row: Miss French (chemistry), Miss Munger (10th grade principal), Maggie Boylan, Annie Hill, Lulu Breitenbach (writing girls’ stories), Nelly Garnsey, Ada May, Clara Hood, unidentified, Anna Mackie Robinson, unidentified, Ida Buchan. Fifth row: Miss Gillies (9th grade principal), unidentified, Professor Sherard (Greek), Miss Malcomson (literature), Miss Hudson (geometry), Mamie Pedan, Charlotte Leslie. Sixth row: Monsieur Sage (French), Miss Bean (English), unidentified, Miss Lizzie Shields (Latin), Mrs. Bishop (12th grade principal), Gertrude Howard, unidentified, Miss Gerls (algebra). Back row: Mr. Bliss (principal), Miss Mary Orr (English essays), Miss Isabel Hull (algebra), Miss Leete (algebra), Herr Miller (German), Miss G. Harrah (history and English).

COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #DPA5141

ABOVE: William Leuchtenberg and his co-workers at Baldwin Iron Works, 1927. COURTESY LARRY BOHNER

ABOVE RIGHT: John P. Welch (left) inspecting parts and technician Pete Sanderson deburring a gear at Chevrolet Gear and Axle, Hamtramck Plant, 1932.

COURTESY DOROTHY WELCH BABBAGE

RIGHT: Men working on assembly line in Packard Motor Company factory in 1939.

COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #NA030006

OPPOSITE: Men and women making automobile seat cushions in the Chrysler factory, circa 1939.

COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #NA030036

ABOVE: A Detroit police officer in a traffic tower as a DUR city streetcar heads up Woodward to Detroit’s northern city limits, 1920. COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #DPA4642

RIGHT: Police officers in a police department vehicle on May 19, 1937. COURTESY DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY / #2017.001.050

OPPOSITE TOP: Mail carriers at the Fox Creek branch of the Post Office in 1924. Seated second from left is William Gentry, the father of Josephine Gentry-Huyghe, who donated this photo. William Gentry first lived with the Garvey family on St. Jean until he was able to get situated. Then he moved to 346 Tennessee Street and sent for his family in Arkansas. He was a mail carrier until he was stricken with ALS and retired circa 1960. COURTESY JOSEPHINE GENTRY-HUYGHE

OPPOSITE BOTTOM LEFT: James Heatley (25), a new recruit of the Detroit Police Department, circa 1919. COURTESY HENRY HEATLEY

OPPOSITE BOTTOM RIGHT: Detroit Rescue Company No. 1 at St. Antoine and East Larned Streets, circa 1920. COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #EB01D058

ABOVE: Detroit firemen battling the blaze engulfing the Belle Isle Bridge on April 27, 1915. COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #BH000808

ABOVE RIGHT: The roof and clock tower of the Michigan Central Railroad Depot at Third Street and West Jefferson Avenue on fire on December 26, 1913. Plumes of water from firefighters’ hoses spray up from the bottom of the frame. COURTESY DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY / #1955.223.159

RIGHT: Parisian Laundry building fire, circa 1907.

COURTESY DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY / #EB02G765

LEFT: Detroit Fire Department’s Ladder Companies No.1 and No.3 fighting a fire at the Goldberg Brothers’ department store on the west side of Woodward Avenue between Grand River and Clifford Street, May 10, 1908.

COURTESY DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY / #1955.166.090

ABOVE: Shrine Circus at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, February 1937. Banners advertising Plymouth, Dodge, Kroger, Crowley Milner and Company, Ford, Mrs. Wagner’s Pie, Coca-Cola, Greenfield’s Inc., Ira Wilson and Sons Dairy, Cass Motor Sales, Detroit Insurance Agency, Wonder Bread, CKLW, WWJ, WJBK, WJR, and other companies and businesses are strung from the rafters. COURTESY DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY / #2007.004.395

LEFT: Cab Calloway, famed jazz singer and band leader, appearing at a special event concert at Maybury Sanitarium, Northville, 1937. COURTESY AUDREY SPISAK VIGLIONE

OPPOSITE BOTTOM LEFT: Brigg’s Designer’s Bowling League in 1935. Included in the photo are three brothers: John Horne (first row, fourth from left), the photo donor’s grandfather, Andrew Horne (behind John’s right shoulder), George Horne (top row, third from right). COURTESY JANICE GRAY

OPPOSITE BOTTOM RIGHT: A crowd in front of the Big Money Social Club at the corner of Sherman and Joseph Campau, 1935. The photo was taken after news reports of a boxing match win by Joe Louis. COURTESY DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY / #2012.044.301