Detroit Brightmoor community (Redford, Davison, Schoolcraft: rent, chapel, school)

[dre71]

I saw this on channel 4 Detroit Women: Call To Police Ignored.

[dre71]

Yeah I saw that it was about a women calling the police about copper thieves stripping houses in her hood and blighting it more its nothing new in detroit.

[Wilkes3]

Yeah the whole city is getting stripped.

[kelligirl]

My husband grew up in Brightmoor from 1954-the late 70'.He is familer with all of the streets,etc you guys have mentioned.In Oct.of this year a large group of friends that grew up there all got together and called it "The Brightmoor Bash".I think they are gonna do it again next fall, I didnt get to attend but it turned out GREAT! I am going to get him on this site in the next couple of days,since I am sure he has some stories to tell. My husbands name is Rodney Newsome,he has a sister a few yrs older named Cleda Newsome Boone.We all live in SC.He says that he had a happy childhood growing up there!

[kelligirl]

Originally Posted by kelligirl

My husband grew up in Brightmoor from 1954-the late 70'.He is familer with all of the streets,etc you guys have mentioned.In Oct.of this year a large group of friends that grew up there all got together and called it "The Brightmoor Bash".I think they are gonna do it again next fall, I didnt get to attend but it turned out GREAT! I am going to get him on this site in the next couple of days,since I am sure he has some stories to tell. My husbands name is Rodney Newsome,he has a sister a few yrs older named Cleda Newsome Boone.We all live in SC.He says that he had a happy childhood growing up there!

Another thing I wanted to say after I speak w/my husband. He lived on Westbrook Street.He had alot of friends thrse but way to many to list. Some of them are Cal Lamont, Chris Bockelman,Rick Markowski and many others!

[lwt 111]

I lived in Brightmoor all of my childhood. I went to Harding and Redford high I graduated in 1989. I remember when we first moved there the area was mostly made up of white people and they were not happy to see us coming. I still remember them throwing eggs at our house. It was a good place until drugs came along and messed up the area. I still remember the community center going to day camp while my mom and dad worked. I went though there a year ago. There is still a lot work that needs to be done. But I still have alot of happy memories of the area.

[kelligirl]

Originally Posted by gmc862000

Anyone live in the Brightmoor community on the west side of Detroit? Just wondering what the house I lived in looks like. 14124 Burt Rd. 2nd house on the North East side of Burt Rd. off of Kendall.

I grew up there. Left in the 80's. Attended Redford High which I heard is closing due to not enought students.

Do you remember Cal Lamotte? He lived at 14181 Burt Rd in the 60's & 70's. I grew up on Westbrook between Fenkell & Outer Dr...My name is Rod Newsome.

[gfeisel]

Originally Posted by lwt 111

I lived in Brightmoor all of my childhood. I went to Harding and Redford high I graduated in 1989. I remember when we first moved there the area was mostly made up of white people and they were not happy to see us coming. I still remember them throwing eggs at our house. It was a good place until drugs came along and messed up the area. I still remember the community center going to day camp while my mom and dad worked. I went though there a year ago. There is still a lot work that needs to be done. But I still have alot of happy memories of the area.

lwt 111

Hopefully Brightmoor and Detroit will see a BIG comeback one of these days.

I lived in Brighmoor from 1940 until 1954; attended Hubert Elementary (we lived right next door at 14901 Lamphere) and Redford High, graduating in 1951; enrolled at Michigan State in 1952; volunteered for the draft in the fall of 1953 (ran out of money for college); entered the Army in January 1954; served two years with 18 months spent in Japan; separated from active duty in January 1956; re-enrolled at State and returned to campus in the fall of 1956; married in 1957; graduated from State in 1960; took employment in Ohio following graduation and have lived there ever since. My parents continued to live there in Brightmoor until a year or two after my father's death. My mother sold the house in 1967 (to a wonderful black family, I might add) and moved in with my brother and his family on Schoolcraft near Beech Road. My mother passed in 1989, but my brother still lives in the same place.

Brightmoor was a great place in which to grow up and I shall cherish the memories I have of that wonderful neighborhood for the rest of my days. In 2001 I returned to Detroit to attend my 50th Class Reunion (the first and only) and took the occasion to take my wife for a tour of the old neighborhood in which I grew up. What a disappointment to see the neglect I noticed throughout the neighborhood: houses with doors and windows boarded up, trash in yards and on the street, houses burned down, etc. I was heartened to see many homes where the owners had taken pride in their ownership with neat yards, nicely painted and seemingly well-tended to. And, I must say that one of the nicer looking places on Lamphere was that little house where I spent much of my youth.

Now in these dire economic times, Detroit is suffering much, much worse than most other areas of the country. The question on many peoples' minds is "will the Detroit auto industry survive?" I am an eternal optomist and I firmly believe that Detroit, and my beloved Brightmoor, will make a comeback and once again be the proud city and neighborhood of years past.

I encourage everyone who is a member (or those just surfing the net) of this discussion thread to check out the following:

The Courage of Detroit - The Bonus - SI.com

George Feisel

[gfeisel]

Originally Posted by teejay1968

I lived there and on blackstone..have not been there in about 14 years..I went to Redford High school in 1984-86..does anyone know a Donna Finch.. she is passed but just wondering if there is anyone here that I know....

I knew a Janet Finch --- she was one of my first wife's bridesmaids back in 1957. Any relation?

[diacono/hasley]

Originally Posted by kelligirl

My husband grew up in Brightmoor from 1954-the late 70'.He is familer with all of the streets,etc you guys have mentioned.In Oct.of this year a large group of friends that grew up there all got together and called it "The Brightmoor Bash".I think they are gonna do it again next fall, I didnt get to attend but it turned out GREAT! I am going to get him on this site in the next couple of days,since I am sure he has some stories to tell. My husbands name is Rodney Newsome,he has a sister a few yrs older named Cleda Newsome Boone.We all live in SC.He says that he had a happy childhood growing up there!

Hey Pam, This is great that you and Rodney are getting the word out about Brightmoor. We need new old friends to come to the next party. I would be glad to give out my e-mail if anyone is interested.
Debbie Diacono-Hasley