Provante

07-17-2001, 9:27 PM

Another fond memory, was going to see BoBo Brazil and the Shiek wrestle at Cobo Hall. Moving that worlds largest Oven down Woodward Ave. from Belle-Isle to the state fairgrounds . I'll think of more --Danny M.

Danny M.

btoepfer

06-28-2001, 3:58 PM

I've been away from Detroit for many years and am not able to visit frequently. One of my favorite memories of Detroit is Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade and how Woodward Avenue was bustling with people so early on a holiday morning. It was SO COLD! J.L. Hudson's at Christmas was dazzling!! I remember eating lunch at Kresge's with my mom. I also have fond recollections of Pegasus restaurant in Greektown (is it still there?). I remember Sir Graves Ghastly and his creepy movies. Bill Bonds and Diana Lewis. John Kelly and Marilyn Turner ( I even remember her as the weather girl!). WRIF is the home of Rock 'N Roll, Baby! I remember Vernor's and Squirt, Twin Pines Milk Delivery, and to this day I still crave White Castle hamburgers!! (We don't have them in California). I remember celebrating many Freedom Festivals with our neighors across the river. My first concert was REO Speedwagon at Joe Louis Arena. I remember when the Grand Prix started in Detroit, and when the Tigers won in 1984 (along with Kirk Gibson's scruffy face). I remember the Piston's winning the NBA finals, twice! But, I think my most favorite memory of Detroit as a kid is Devil's Night! No one does the night before Halloween quite like Detroit! (this is before burning everything in sight became so popular). I must admit, there is one particular thing I do not miss..........WINTER!!!!

Happy 300th Birthday Detroit!!!! See you in July!

xtrabigg

06-17-2001, 4:52 AM

I remember going to my first Tiger game back in 1968. You could smell the hot dogs in the air, and feel the excitement even before you walked into the stadium. It was Bat Day, and to this day I can still hear the unmistakeable sound of thousands of kids pounding their bats on the floor, then bursting into a roar as Willie Horton hit one into the seats in Left Field...

Not all memories are that old, though. One of my favorite new memories is taking my 14 year old daughter to the Detroit Electronic Music Festival this year. It was great seeing people from all walks of life, ages and countries come together to celebrate something so uniquely Detroit. It was also fun to see the pleasantly shocked faces of first time visitors who marveled at how polite, friendly and just plain nice we Detroiters are!

Thaddeus S. Kaczor, Jr.

Intell0w19

06-09-2001, 3:09 PM

The influx of people of all nationalities at the train depot when we first arrived in 1946. The lower eastside and "Blackbottom", living near Joe Louis' mother's home on Chestnut street. The black-owned business district near downtown (barber/beautyshops, clothing stores, cafes, etc.)number men, John R. "Street of Dreams", Gotham Hotel, Flame Showbar, Chestnut Lounge, street vendors hawking hot tamales and polish sausage, rib joints-12th Street before the riot, The Drome, Esquire Restaurant, Log Cabin on Oakland Ave, Roma Cafe, Eastern Market, spending the night on Belle Isle, my multi-cultural neighbors on the lower eastside, the coal man, the ice man, the milk man, the aromas emitting from the Wonderbread bakery, the streetcar rides, Joe Louis' Farm, the Forest Inn, Arcadia, the Greystone Ballroom, Rev. C.L. Franklin, Prophet Jones, the Family Theater, Dressing up to go to the Fox, Jefferson Beach, Edgewater Park, Russell School and Mrs. Lomax (favorite teacher), graduating from the predominantly white Pershing High School (with honors-first black to be featured in Senior Play), Wayne University when Old Main, Library, and State Hall and McKenzie Hall were the main structures, seeing my French teacher jump to his death from McKenzie, Dr. King's march down Woodward Avenue and shaking his hand at Central Methodist, looking out the window at 640 Temple watching grief engulf the city when JFK was assassinated--praying for my children to reach adulthood, now praying for all children--what memories! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DETROIT 's

Looking forward

Warren

06-07-2001, 6:48 PM

This is my third posting to this site. As I've previously mentioned, one of my most memorable activities was working at Edgewater Park with my grandfather during my teen years, 1961-1969. The park is gone now and I am desperately trying to find photographs of the park. If anyone has any photos, even with people in the photos, please contact me at the following e-mail address and I will be happy to pay for copies to be made and postage for you to forward them to me. Thank you in advance,

Warren A. Spinner NewOrleansWeddingNews@Home.com

Thank You Warren Spinner

Marvo

05-22-2001, 5:17 PM

I remember going to palmer park with my family for picnics. We also would ice skate in the winter on the frozen pond and drink hot chocolate from the concession stand. We many times would wait outside at night for the Mr. Softy to come by so we could buy ice cream cones, milk shakes and banana splits. I also rememember when the twin pines truck would come and leave milk, ice cream and orange juice. I remember the how every family on our block knew each other. I remember family trips to the dairy cream. We took free dance classes at the school when school was not in cession. We went to arts and craft clasess in the summer at the school. We had to walk to school when ever we had to go. We rarly got a ride. I remember edge water park. Our graduating class from junior high school went there for our end of the year trip. Many of us wore clothes that we made in sewing class. We also took a foods class and we made many different meals. I remember when the boys had to swim in swim class with out any trunks and the girls had to run down the isle in their birthday suit to get a swim suit. I remember going downtown to the motown review. Those were the days!!!!!!

Be Strong, Marvo

Marvo

05-15-2001, 11:14 PM

I remember the rides down 12th. street to watch all what was going on, and I mean it was a lot....or should I say the Pro's were at work. It was fun to just ride down there and just look. And maybe get a Hot Tomalley from the hot Tomalley man, he was always there with his little cart...and let me tell you they sure were goooood!

Be Strong, Marvo

Ms_Trpt_02

04-20-2001, 8:41 PM

My favorite memories are: going to the parade with my father every year since 1987, when i was 3 (I'm 17 now), going to Belle Isle when I was 15, going to the Renaissance Center in the summer of 2000 and being in the parade in 1999 and 2000. I also liked going on the people mover. My first trip on the people mover was when I was 3 in 1987 when i went for a ride on it with my mom. My aunt took all her nieces on it (me and all 5 of my younger cousins) on it when I was 9 or 10.

Girl Power and Toot toot

lholmes

04-10-2001, 12:23 PM

In 1968, I was 17 years old turning 18. graduating from "Central High School" I had a job at Ingleside Nursing Home, The Tigers won the World series. It was one of the best the best summers of my life. I would go down to Kennedy Square at night and some one would always have a record player (45's) and we would dance until late night. And no one would bother us. The house parties were safe, and I had been to New York, New York on our senior trip. That was a year I'll never forget. Martin Luther King was killed, and we had just gotten over the riot the year before. There was some great times and sad times. More great than sad.

Warren

04-01-2001, 8:14 PM

I wrote my previous entry on Friday, 3/30/01 and since then, I have been flooded with memories of growing up in Detroit.

I remember Summer evenings at Palmer Park. Feeding the ducks Cheez-its and taking horse & Buggy rides. We also tried to fish in the big pond, but never caught anything.

I remember the weekends at Sandy Beach way out at the end of Telegraph. It was on Loon Lake and it was rumored that the lake had no bottom. Sandy Beach was a private beach and it cost a dime to become a member. This was to keep people of color out. They had the same policy at Crystal Pool on 8 mile and Greenfield. As a kid, I never thought much about it but as an adult, well, it's an embarrassment.

I remember going downtown when I was 13 and working in my friend Jeff Greers' fathers $1.00 Tie Store. He paid us $5.00 for 3 hours work. We took the money and had a steak dinner at the Flaming Embers on Woodward, saw some great flicks at the Trans Lux Cinnema and sometimes would check out the drunks at the Colony on the other side of Grand Circus Park.

Going downtown to see Ben Hur with all my friends from Livonia on a Saturday morning. Of course going downtown to see any movie was a treat. Those theaters were certainly elegant and we got to see the movies when they were new.

Most Saturday's, as a kid, I would walk to the Dexter Show and see a cartoon and two feature films + have a popcorn and a candy bar, all for a total of 36 cents.

When I was older, I saw some plays at the Fisher Theater and would then take my dates to Carls Chop House for the greatest hamburger I have ever tasted.

Again, Briggs Stadium and later Tiger Stadium, where you could get the best hot dog on earth for 30 cents. Bleacher Seats were 50 cents.When the Tigers won in 68, I ran onto the field and stopped at second base, looked around the stadium....wow, what a different perspective.

The winter Saturday afternoons when my dad and I would go to Eastern Market for hand cut smoked salmon and smoked fish of all varieties.

The air conditioned drug stores and their soda fountains. The best ice cream around. The Kool-Aid stands we started in order to pick up some pocket change and returning pop bottles for the 2 cent deposit.

The Westside Drive-in on Eight Mile and of course Kiddie Land next door.

When I get off the plane for a visit, I will usually stop at the first Coney Island I see on the way to my mothers house. When I get there, I tell her I'm hungry and then take her out for some more Coney's. Of course she doesn't know about the two or three I had an hour ago......until now.

I remember when the Lodge Freeway was dug and they installed Video cameras to monitor the traffic and Ronald Regan telling the world about it on GE Theater one Sunday night.

The all-day hockey games on the Rouge River in Livonia during Christmas Vacation. Shoveling Snow for 50 cents a house....unless it was a corner house, then it was 75 cents.

The Sunday mornings at my grandmother's house, when all the family would gather for a tremendous brunch. This is probably what I miss the most. Being surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and tons of cousins. You could feel the love from these average, hard working people....some of which are gone forever and the rest, I never see. Thank God for our memories. With our memories, all things great and good, live within us.

Once again, happy 300th Detroit.

Thank You Warren Spinner