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Was that the former Detroit City Airport? I lived on Newport, between mack & Charlevoix, its all gone now........funny, I didn't feel sad to leave, just wanted out. I never wanted to go back, have moved on. But still, I feel sad its gone, that part of my life is completely erased like it never happened.
Remember Mr. Belevedere? His home improvement company? his speciality was fixing up older houses that stlill had some life in them, he never really hit our neighborhood. I wonder if anyone has a "Belevedere home" and how those neighborhoods fared?
What killed my neighborhood was the opening of the suburbs, they just had so much more house for the money. None of the houses where I lived had more than one bathroom, we did install a flush-up toilet in the basement for "back up" but most people just had one toilet, basemments were just storage, unfinished, when they built those nice, big homes in the suburbs people just wanted there, left our little homes to rot. Its sad, they could have been fixed up and habitable today. Oh, welll..........
Marylee II, I lived on Eastlawn between Mack & Charlevoix. Do you remember the stores at Mack & Chalmers? The Uptown Theatre, Cunningham's drug store, Kresge's, Red Robbins dress store, Chalmer's Lunch, and many other stores?
The area was not of significant historical importance, so no pictures available in any arcihves. If, I had only known what was to become of my beloved neighborhood, I would have taken tons of pictures when I had the opporturnity. Unfortunately the images only remain in my memory.
Howdy, neighbor!
Yes, I remember the little businesses on Mack---do you remember between newport and lakewood, that funky little hamburger place, named Wimpy's? Run by a lady named Sarah, she looked like tug Boat Annie, I swear i think she had a taatoo, flipped burgers for the noonday crowd, mcDonalds was yet to come.
On the same block, Lillian's Cards and Gifts? A tiny little crafts store, run by a lady who lived in the back, some thick German accent, she always wore long sleeves, rumor was she was a refugee from a concentration camp, don't forget, I'm talking about the 50's, fresh from WWII.
I was just trying to remember the businesses along Mack ave, although I lived there for years and rode my bike along that strip, I can't remember all the businesses. There was a dental lab right on the corner of newport and Mack, made false teeth. then right across the street, the Bank of the Commonwealth, and the A&P next to that. Remember the Walker Cheverolet dealership? They had those big search lights to advertise. Yes, I also remember the old Uptown theater, the balcony was closed off for as long as I can remember, then they closed it because of falling plasterwork from the ceilings, and, of course, lack of revenue. I think they built a gas station. And yes, the Cumminghams Drug right across from the Uptown, see a movie then go get a soda!
Finally I remember the "milk store" on the corner of Mack and Lakewood, my mother worked there for a little while, my Dad used to walk there every night for milk and bread.
Geez, I'm starting to feel like some old lady doing a documentary! Hey, I'm not that old!
You're so right about pictures just not existing of that area, since it wasn't significant. We never thought to take pictures of the mundane, the everyday. How I wish now we had pictures!
BTW, did you go to Carstens? Its still there, that school is ancient, my mother went there, prior to that it was a private, girl's boarding school.
If anyone happens to have old pictures of that ares, I wish they would post!
Yes, I remember the little businesses on Mack---do you remember between newport and lakewood, that funky little hamburger place, named Wimpy's? Run by a lady named Sarah, she looked like tug Boat Annie, I swear i think she had a taatoo, flipped burgers for the noonday crowd, mcDonalds was yet to come.
On the same block, Lillian's Cards and Gifts? A tiny little crafts store, run by a lady who lived in the back, some thick German accent, she always wore long sleeves, rumor was she was a refugee from a concentration camp, don't forget, I'm talking about the 50's, fresh from WWII.
I was just trying to remember the businesses along Mack ave, although I lived there for years and rode my bike along that strip, I can't remember all the businesses. There was a dental lab right on the corner of newport and Mack, made false teeth. then right across the street, the Bank of the Commonwealth, and the A&P next to that. Remember the Walker Cheverolet dealership? They had those big search lights to advertise. Yes, I also remember the old Uptown theater, the balcony was closed off for as long as I can remember, then they closed it because of falling plasterwork from the ceilings, and, of course, lack of revenue. I think they built a gas station. And yes, the Cumminghams Drug right across from the Uptown, see a movie then go get a soda!
Finally I remember the "milk store" on the corner of Mack and Lakewood, my mother worked there for a little while, my Dad used to walk there every night for milk and bread.
Geez, I'm starting to feel like some old lady doing a documentary! Hey, I'm not that old!
You're so right about pictures just not existing of that area, since it wasn't significant. We never thought to take pictures of the mundane, the everyday. How I wish now we had pictures!
BTW, did you go to Carstens? Its still there, that school is ancient, my mother went there, prior to that it was a private, girl's boarding school.
If anyone happens to have old pictures of that ares, I wish they would post!
Nice meeting you, neighbor!
It's nice meeting you too! I think you are the first person that I have met from the East Side since I have been reading these threads. While I enjoy reading all of the posts, it is nice to know someone who can remember the ole neighborhood. I can not relate to North & West neighborhhoods since there was no reason to travel there. It was like being in a completely different city for me. However, I did spend quite a bit of time in Hamtramack visiting friends that I had met on my first job out of high school. Simple two story white clap board homes on very narrow streets. The homes were very neat and clean at that time.
I do remember the dental lab, the milk store and the card shop and of course, the A&P. For whatever reason, I do not remember Wimpy's or the craft store. I am sure the colorful ladies that worked there would have stayed in my memory as well. Sorry, I missed out on that experience. The area was filled with European immigrants, lots of Italians. As a teenager, I worked part-time at the Kresge store. Elderly Italian women would come into the store to shop. They did not speak English and so many of them were dressed in black. They were widows who were mourning the loss of their husbands. They looked so old, but I bet they were no older than 50 or 60.
Yes, Walker Chevrolet. Remember the old Dinah Shore show? At the end of the show they would have a new model Chevrolet covered with a sheet. No one could see it until the introduction date. On that day, the dealerships advertised with strobe lights, balloons and such. The dealerships were jam packed with curious people. I bought my first new car at Walker's. It was a 1961 convertible. I had always wanted a convertible, a 1955, 1956 or 1957 would have been swell. They were such cool cars. A 1961 model, not so much.
No, I did not go to Carsten's. I went to Clark Elementary, Jackson Jr. High and finally Southeastern. I went to Clark because I was living at Barham and Mack which was further east from the Mack & Chalmers area. We moved to Eastlawn St. when I was 12. Clark, Jackson and Sourtheastern are also still standing, at least that was the case in 2003. It seems most of the houses surrounding Clark were still there in 2003. The area around Clark was more upscale at the time. When, I was there in 2003 there was a construction crew working at Southeastern. They were turning it into a vocational school. I wonder how that worked out since the crisis in the auto industry. Maybe some of the schools we mentioned will be on the chopping block.
Finally, if you ever have the urge, please feel free to DM me. That way, we will not bore the other posters with our "trip down memory lane." So thrilled to have had this chat with you.
By the way, when did you leave Detroit? Where did you go?
It's nice meeting you too! I think you are the first person that I have met from the East Side since I have been reading these threads. While I enjoy reading all of the posts, it is nice to know someone who can remember the ole neighborhood. I can not relate to North & West neighborhhoods since there was no reason to travel there. It was like being in a completely different city for me. However, I did spend quite a bit of time in Hamtramack visiting friends that I had met on my first job out of high school. Simple two story white clap board homes on very narrow streets. The homes were very neat and clean at that time.
I do remember the dental lab, the milk store and the card shop and of course, the A&P. For whatever reason, I do not remember Wimpy's or the craft store. I am sure the colorful ladies that worked there would have stayed in my memory as well. Sorry, I missed out on that experience. The area was filled with European immigrants, lots of Italians. As a teenager, I worked part-time at the Kresge store. Elderly Italian women would come into the store to shop. They did not speak English and so many of them were dressed in black. They were widows who were mourning the loss of their husbands. They looked so old, but I bet they were no older than 50 or 60.
Yes, Walker Chevrolet. Remember the old Dinah Shore show? At the end of the show they would have a new model Chevrolet covered with a sheet. No one could see it until the introduction date. On that day, the dealerships advertised with strobe lights, balloons and such. The dealerships were jam packed with curious people. I bought my first new car at Walker's. It was a 1961 convertible. I had always wanted a convertible, a 1955, 1956 or 1957 would have been swell. They were such cool cars. A 1961 model, not so much.
No, I did not go to Carsten's. I went to Clark Elementary, Jackson Jr. High and finally Southeastern. I went to Clark because I was living at Barham and Mack which was further east from the Mack & Chalmers area. We moved to Eastlawn St. when I was 12. Clark, Jackson and Sourtheastern are also still standing, at least that was the case in 2003. It seems most of the houses surrounding Clark were still there in 2003. The area around Clark was more upscale at the time. When, I was there in 2003 there was a construction crew working at Southeastern. They were turning it into a vocational school. I wonder how that worked out since the crisis in the auto industry. Maybe some of the schools we mentioned will be on the chopping block.
Finally, if you ever have the urge, please feel free to DM me. That way, we will not bore the other posters with our "trip down memory lane." So thrilled to have had this chat with you.
By the way, when did you leave Detroit? Where did you go?
Sent you a DM
Wow, all those memories! Finally someone to share it with! My family died, all our friends moved away, its like that part of my life never existed. Well, now I have proof I didn't "dream" my growing up years!
Funny, just when you posted about the little businesses on Mack, I was just thinking about them. Do you remember Rileys dept store? a small, dress and women's clothing store, my mother hated it, she wanted Hudsons or nothing! Well, she worked at Hudsons, and made good use of her discount!
Turn the corner towards Charlevoix. Fewer businesses, I don't think it was zoned for businesses, but there were a few. Do you remember George's Meat Market? He lived above the market,could walk righ down the block for your steaks. The Jolly Dutchman, a bar and grill, right across from Carstens? They wouldn't allow that now, but I don't think it was open during school hours, anyways. And a tiny little store going down Charlevoix towards Lakewood, owned by a man named Hartgraves, a little house turned into a store, old man died when I was a child.
Such a colorful nieghborhood, such a rich place to grow up in! Its a shame its all gone now, but those neighborhoods exist only in people's memories now.
Very nice homes. I moved the guy over to the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood and there are some very nice homes over there too.
There truly are some nice homes there, built to last and maintained well. It just shows what can be done with a little upkeep. Also, Lakewood has some nice homes, they were built on larger lots, and most were 2-family flats. Its too bad we let go of our property there, but it was a total loss and the taxes would have eaten us alive, and we couldn't take on the liability that someone would trip and fall and sue us. We just couldn't hold on to it, most people didn't from that era. Perhaps a new generation wil restore and revive that area.
And here is my former home today. All the memories made at that address, gone. It's sad.
Remisc, I feel your pain. My childhood home was destroyed by arsonists back in the 80's. In 2003, I looked at a vacant lot where my house once stood. I think looking at a vacant lot was a lot easier than seeing just a stub of a house remaining.
Most of us have got on with our lives. We may have wonderful families, nice homes and a financially comfortable existence, but the destuction of our City and our first or childhood homes remain with us even if we have placed it far out of our minds. We still feel the loss, knowing we can never go back home.
Thank you so much for starting this thread. I wish more people would find it and post their stories. Only those who have lived it can completely understand what we are feeling.
Yes, many people had no choice but to leave. People have been killed, mugged, attacked or witnessed unspeakable horrors by trying to remain in their homes. Still, only to lose them to criminals and thugs in the end.
Remisc, I feel your pain. My childhood home was destroyed by arsonists back in the 80's. In 2003, I looked at a vacant lot where my house once stood. I think looking at a vacant lot was a lot easier than seeing just a stub of a house remaining.
Most of us have got on with our lives. We may have wonderful families, nice homes and a financially comfortable existence, but the destuction of our City and our first or childhood homes remain with us even if we have placed it far out of our minds. We still feel the loss, knowing we can never go back home.
Thank you so much for starting this thread. I wish more people would find it and post their stories. Only those who have lived it can completely understand what we are feeling.
Yes, many people had no choice but to leave. People have been killed, mugged, attacked or witnessed unspeakable horrors by trying to remain in their homes. Still, only to lose them to criminals and thugs in the end.
I understand exactly. Its like we're refugees. I was chatting with a lady from Iran, everything she grew up with is gone, burned, destroyed. she can't go back if she wanted to. And she left due to dire circumstances, like we left Detroit.
When you think about it, we are refugees. We didn't leave, we fled. We can't go back down memory lane, except via the Internet. Lately I've been reminicsing over old pictures, websites, etc, but there's no way I would ever go back there physically, simply because there isn't anything to go back to! My home, school, church, playgrounds, little businesses, are all gone. For those areas still remaining, well, its not worth the risk to take a trip down memory lane. I got out, stay out.
Another poster said her grandmother was mugged at Forest lawn Cemetary, my family is there, but my last visit was years ago. My Dad said never to come back, they can't hurt the dead, go on with the living.I've read about how many people are actually disinterring their loved onesfrom cemeteries in Detroit to be reburied in other cemeteries just so they can feel safe visitng their graves.
My last trip to Detroit, we left via Detroit City Airport, which is close to Forest Lawn. As the plane circled around, it went right over my family's graves, I could clearly see the purple and orange mums I had left on them. Talkl about a moment! It was like they ally waved goodbye, oh, geez, now I'm crying, gotta quit that! Live in the present, forget the past---as though we ever could totally. Those memories stay buried, and do surface at times, like now.
Hang in there, all my fellow refugees!
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My family died, all our friends moved away, its like that part of my life never existed. Well, now I have proof I didn't "dream" my growing up years!
