Metro Detroit's "Little Italy"?

[Osito57]

Detroit's Italian community is centered in Macomb County nowadays. Clinton Township, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, and Macomb Township are the biggest communities.

Roseville, Fraser and Eastpointe are the "old country", where grandma lives.

Detroit, unfortunately no longer has an Italian community. When it did, it was located along Gratiot.

[imfromoakwood]

There was also a community of Italians in SW Detroit, Oakwood section, that later became mostly San Marino Italians. Now, most of them have moved on too. I beleive most moved further into the downriver area. Melvindale, Taylor, Allen Park, Lincoln Park, ect...My mother grew up in Oakwood, and stayed friends with her childhood friends throughout her life,and I grew up in Oakwood and still remain friends with my childhood friends, as do my children. So, please do not try and tell me there was only one community of Italians in Detroit.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by Osito57

Detroit, unfortunately no longer has an Italian community. When it did, it was located along Gratiot.

Dang, did you read any posts on this thread?!

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by imfromoakwood

There was also a community of Italians in SW Detroit, Oakwood section, that later became mostly San Marino Italians. Now, most of them have moved on too. I beleive most moved further into the downriver area. Melvindale, Taylor, Allen Park, Lincoln Park, ect...My mother grew up in Oakwood, and stayed friends with her childhood friends throughout her life,and I grew up in Oakwood and still remain friends with my childhood friends, as do my children. So, please do not try and tell me there was only one community of Italians in Detroit.

So did I!

I grew up kitty-corner from Giovanni's on Oakwood near the store called Najors, which moved across the street from Gonella's, during the 80's. The house is no longer there anymore.

[kathys]

My father and his extended family all lived near Eastern Market in the 20s and 30s. Chene and Gratiot area. The whole street was Italian or Polish. I believe the name of the actual street was Hendricks. Went to St Josephs Catholic church, which I think is still there.I think a lot of them either died off or moved in the 40s-50s.

[imfromoakwood]

BGF...Hello, I was born in Oakwood, 1951, on Bayside. Then family moved to Norway st. It was the only house on the street, across from Hunter School, between Luther and Colonial. Things got really bad so the family moved to Melvindale. When I got married I moved back, I LOVED Oakwood! While I was in high school, I worked in the drug store, on the corner of Oakwood& Powell. (don't know the name of the store that replaced it). I lived on Dumfries, (where the Taylors live), Colonial, and Luther. I also worked at Oakwood Blue Jackets. So our paths prolly crossed many times!lol
Don't know why people insist there was only on HOOD with Italians in it.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by imfromoakwood

BGF...Hello, (don't know the name of the store that replaced it). I lived on Dumfries, (where the Taylors live), [/i]

The Taylors?!

Oh yeah, i know that family really, really well!!

[fredo10]

I lived in oakwood from 1949 to 1975 my family rented a house on grayfryers in 1958 we moved to Dumfries (accross from the park). in 1958 i was on the OBJ football team and later worked at the OBJ till 1968. I rember a Larry Fox living on norway Street.