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Belle Isle: 1865
Spring 1865. Belle Isle railroad bridge from the south bank of the James River after the fall of ... compiled by Hirst D. Milhollen and Donald H. Mugridge. Belle Isle This was one of the first Confederate prison camps of the Civil ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 6:24pm -

Spring 1865. Belle Isle railroad bridge from the south bank of the James River after the fall of Richmond. View full size. Glass plate negative from the Civil War collection compiled by Hirst D. Milhollen and Donald H. Mugridge. Belle IsleThis was one of the first Confederate prison camps of the Civil War. It opened after the First Battle of Bull Run and held Union Army NCO's and enlisted men. There were no barracks constructed, the only shelters were tents. Just a guess but that fence along the top of the ridge was likely the stockade. While it was intended to hold only 3,000 numbers grew to double that and led to many prisoners being shipped further south to other camps, most infamously Andersonville. In any instance, the river made escapes dangerous, especially in light of the weakened condition of most prisoners. LensSomeone miscalculated the coverage of the lens. Belle IsleWhat are those large buildings in the distance on the right? they look like modern apartment complexes. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Civil War, Richmond)
Belle Isle Ferry: 1905
Circa 1905. "Belle Isle Park ferry dock, Detroit." The steamer Garland at the dock. Detroit ... occupied by Hart Plaza, about 2 miles downriver from Belle Isle. Simply marvelous. Great shot of a slice of life long ago. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/02/2018 - 2:29pm -

Circa 1905. "Belle Isle Park ferry dock, Detroit." The steamer Garland at the dock. Detroit Publishing Company glass negative. View full size. ClassSince becoming a Shorpy addict it almost seems that you have to go back 100 years or so to enjoy class, beauty and style. Off in the distance.....Way off in the distance on the left edge of the picture you can just make out a rail car ferry, the darker gray against the lighter gray of the shoreline - the twin stacks and the white deckhouse above the aft end are visible. Also, you can just make out "Woodward Avenue" on the edge of the building (partially obscured by the boat), so this dock was likely at the foot of Woodward, an area currently occupied by Hart Plaza, about 2 miles downriver from Belle Isle. Simply marvelous.Great shot of a slice of life long ago. The clothing and the hats! Everyone was just so civilized and proper. A far, far cry from today's world. It would be fun to send back one of the pierced and tattooed men or women of today, with spiked hair and tattered clothing, and here the gasps of horror and disbelief. Don't shake the boat!I love this picture, there are so many things to look at. But the biggest thing that I noticed is that boat appears to be really top heavy. GarlandI like the wreath for the namesake on top of the Wheel House Not so shakyI could not find specs for the Garland, but a sister in the fleet, the S.S. Pleasure, was listed at 140 feet long by 39½ wide with a 14-foot draft. A boat this size would probably displace about 1600 tons. Very stable. Only two lifeboats!Great details of period clothing, but I cringe at the paucity of lifeboats. Of course, after Titanic, boats like these were required to carry more, which caused stability problems and may have contributed to the 1915 Eastland disaster in Chicago. Bowled me over.It's been a long time since one needed to take a steamer to reach Belle Isle. There are still a lot of things to see, one thing you probably won't see are so many bowler hats! Killer boat!In 1880, the Garland ran over a chartered yacht on the Detroit River and killed 17 people. Most of them were young boys. Neat but slightly creepy.What a great image! I love the two young lads on either side of the pushcart. With their hats down over their brows, you can tell they are waiting to check out the young ladies who might be arriving on the ferry. However, I must say that the shadowy figure on the far left gives me the creeps. Just for Shade?Was there a "nautical" reason for the canvas covering across the bow of the ferry? [The "nautical" reason for the canvas windscreen would be to keep the passengers' hats from setting sail. - Dave] (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Fish Story: 1908
Detroit circa 1908. "Interior of Aquarium, Belle Isle Park." The watery wonderland last glimpsed here . 8x10 inch dry plate ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/10/2023 - 4:40pm -

Detroit circa 1908. "Interior of Aquarium, Belle Isle Park." The watery wonderland last glimpsed here. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. A TreasureTiny by modern public aquarium standards, but none can match its beauty. Isle be thereThe last time we glimpsed the Belle Isle Aquarium, it was closed because of tough economic times in Detroit. Since then, the Aquarium found funds and volunteer staff, reopened (in 2012), and recently completed an upgrade during lockdown. It's a setup!The opening to a horror film: The little girl tosses something to the thing in the tank beyond her, It rises up and eats her, then all the tanks explode and the fish go on a rampage! Maybe my imagination is having an overload. I do like the 2012 image a lot better! (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Kids)
The Casino at Belle Isle: 1907
Detroit, Michigan, circa 1907. "New casino at Belle Isle Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2012 - 2:50pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1907. "New casino at Belle Isle Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Can you hear me now?The cellphone tower is really planning ahead. Love the "under construction" picsI love to see how methods, materials, and tools were implemented during construction of these buildings from the past. Nary a Dewalt miter saw, Bosch hammer drill, laser level or diamond cutting wet saw to be found. Still with usThis beautiful building is still there. The two porches have been enclosed. Cutting Wood.My California house was built in 1929. The portable circular saw was invented in the 20's and was quick to catch on in California due to the housing boom, but it is amazing to think that up till this time, every stick of wood in the house was cut by hardworking carpenters using handsaws. [Portable electric circular saws go back at least to the early 1910s. - Dave]= (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Belle Isle: 1865 (Restored)
Original here . Belle Isle: 1865: Spring 1865. Belle Isle railroad bridge from the south bank of the James River after the ... 
 
Posted by caljaysoc - 05/10/2013 - 7:37pm -

Original here. Belle Isle: 1865: Spring 1865. Belle Isle railroad bridge from the south bank of the James River after the fall of Richmond. Glass plate negative from the Civil War collection compiled by Hirst D. Milhollen and Donald H. Mugridge. Restored by Callie Jayne. View full size. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Belle Isle Bathers: 1910
Detroit circa 1910. "Bath house at Belle Isle." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/25/2018 - 1:02pm -

Detroit circa 1910. "Bath house at Belle Isle." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Bathing BeautiesThis bath house was built in 1894. Detroit grew quickly then, and when this bath house was overwhelmed, the city built a new one in 1910. Demand grew so much that the city decided to keep both. They're both gone, except for one piece of the new bath house: SurvivorThe only thing in this photo that survives is the DYC building. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Swimming)
Noble Riggers: 1905
Detroit circa 1905. "Belle Isle ferry dock." A good place to pick up a yacht sail. The steamer Garland ... remember was made of carved oak. It was moved from near Belle Isle to the state fairgrounds off 8 Mile in 1965. In 1974 it was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/02/2018 - 2:25pm -

Detroit circa 1905. "Belle Isle ferry dock." A good place to pick up a yacht sail. The steamer Garland, seen earlier here. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Stove burnedThe giant Garland stove you remember was made of carved oak. It was moved from near Belle Isle to the state fairgrounds off 8 Mile in 1965. In 1974 it was disassembled and stored, but then was refurbished and returned to the fairgrounds in 1998. In Aug. 2011, it was struck by lightning and burned. Belle Isle from CanadaI grew up in Riverside (now Windsor) Ontario in the 1950s, and we lived on Esdras Place, just one block from the Detroit River. At the foot of Esdras there is a private park owned by the residents, and it looks directly across the river to Belle Isle. There were many kids on the block then, and that is where we learned to swim. There were picnics and parties held there though the summer. The Kodachrome photo was taken by my father in 1955, and shows residents swimming in the river, with Belle Isle on the far side. The freighter steaming past is the Ralph Budd, which had an interesting history. A sign in the 1906 photo indicates service to Bois Blanc, on June 7. It was also known as Bob-lo Island, downstream from Detroit. You can read more here. "Naming rights"existed even in 1880, when the Garland was built, reportedly the first electrically-lit vessel on the lakes. She was named for the most popular model manufactured by Detroit's Michigan Stove Company; in return, the vessel's owner, Captain John Horn, had his new craft festooned in nickle-plated decoration, courtesy of the stove manufacturer. Indeed, the odd-looking mass ahead of the funnel is an example of that handiwork, a garland with the letter "G" inside. When I was a kid a gigantic Garland stove, at least two stories tall, dominated the approach to Belle Isle at Detroit, built for Chicago's Columbian Exposition. For all I know, it's still there. The Garland endured quite awhile. Horner lost the vessel after the tragic accident involving mostly altar boys, referred to in the comments to Shorpy's original view of the ferry, when her builder, the Detroit Dry Dock Company, repossessed it. She continued in the Detroit-Sarnia service, renamed City of Sarnia in 1923, until removed from service in the early 1940s. She sank at the dock in 1945, and was dismantled in situ 1946-47. Giggle, Giggle!One can almost hear the gleeful titters of the little girls in their summer frocks and straw hats, about to embark on an exciting voyage to exotic and storied foreign climes. Well, maybe those lands are still in the US and just across the river, but when you're five or ten, opportunities like this take on exciting aspects out of all proportion to the way adults reckon these things. This is a view of the ferry dock at the foot of Woodward AvenueSure, you could travel a few miles down Jefferson Avenue and cross to the Island over a bridge, but for a dime you could cruise there in style on the Garland or its sister vessel, which began ferry service when Belle Isle opened in 1882. In their 1957 book Made in Detroit, Norman Beasley and George W. Stark describe the allure of the steamers: “All day long until late at night, the Belle Isle ferries traveled up and down the river. … The fare was ten cents, and if the passenger so chose he could ride all day long for his original dime. … In the dusk of evening, the ride back to the city was exhilarating. The lights in the scattered high towers gave dimensions to Detroit; the growing skyline gave a sense of growing importance.” Sadly, the last boat sailed in 1957. Does your mother still dress you?Can anyone fill me in on why that one boy seems to be wearing a doily on his shoulders? This is not something that I have seen before, and I am wondering if it is a common article of clothing. It occurs to me that his mother might have thrown that over his shoulders as a sort of shawl anticipating cooler temperatures out on the water. Can anyone shed any light on this for me? [Appears to be a kind of Fauntleroy suit. - tterrace] June 7, 1906?Possibly circa on or shortly before June 7, according to the displayed timetable. Can't make out what the two words to the left of "June 7" are. "Best Blues"? Bois BlancThe sign actually says "Bois Blanc" referring to another island in the Detroit River also known as Boblo Island. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Belle Isle Bikes: 1899
Detroit circa 1899. "Forest Drive, Belle Isle Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/26/2017 - 10:47am -

Detroit circa 1899. "Forest Drive, Belle Isle Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Belle Isle 1940
... Norman Ouellette enjoying a fall afternoon on Detroit's Belle Isle. This picture is in 1940, around 2 years before the pairs wed. ... 
 
Posted by Lynea - 07/04/2008 - 10:31am -

Mary (Marianna) Zmuda and Arnold Zehnder, Mary (Hedwigis) Zmuda and Norman Ouellette enjoying a fall afternoon on Detroit's Belle Isle. This picture is in 1940, around 2 years before the pairs wed. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
The Grayhouse: 1907
Detroit circa 1907. "Horticultural Building, Belle Isle Park." Check out their latest Vine. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/21/2014 - 11:35am -

Detroit circa 1907. "Horticultural Building, Belle Isle Park." Check out their latest Vine. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. ChallengeOK Shorpy colorists, you're on. Belle Isle BeautyInfo from the Belle Isle Conservancy website: "The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory was opened in 1904 and was designed by Albert Kahn, modeled after Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. The Conservatory is divided into 5 distinct sections: The Palm House, Tropical House, Showroom, Cactus House and the Fernery. Mrs. Anna Scripps Whitcomb bequeathed her 600-plant orchid collection to the City of Detroit and the Conservatory. In 1955 the Conservatory was dedicated to her." My family, beginning with my grandparents, visited Belle Isle at least twice yearly for nine decades. It's great to see the historical photos displayed here at Shorpy. I keep hoping to find family in one of these oldies. Now belongs to the StateWith the current bankruptcy procedings of the City of Detroit going on, the State of Michigan has acquired ownership of the entire island including all upon it. Hopefully this bids for better times, as it has fallen upon hardship in recent years. Fond memoriesOf occasional visits here with my mother in the '50s. For all the exotic plants, bright colors & winter warmth, I most remember the humidity. Now that Belle Isle is a state park, maybe the Conservatory will be returned to its former glory. Grayhouse Kodachrome: 1956Interior of the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan, April 1956. Scanned Kodachrome slide. View full size. More Kodachrome slides of the interior and exterior that were taken in 1955-56 can be found here. MomMy mom told me stories of trips to Belle Isle on the streetcar when she was a young child. Here she is in 1936 at 17 years old in front of the greenhouse. (The Gallery, DPC, Kids)
Belle Isle Ferry (Colorized)
Colorized from this Shorpy original. View full size. (Colorized Photos) ... 
 
Posted by SirCarl - 10/02/2018 - 2:28pm -

Colorized from this Shorpy original. View full size. (Colorized Photos)
Onward: 1908
... I would guess the location to be on the North side of Belle Isle and, of course, the Detroit River looking N by NW. Exposed upholstery ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 5:57pm -

Detroit circa 1908. "Automobile on waterfront road." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Optical illusionWhat an interesting contraption, whoever heard of dome lights that tall? Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe?I'm guessing that this was taken along Lakeshore Drive (near Edsel Ford's home in Grosse Pointe Shores) given the stately size of the homes in the background. The body of water being Lake St. Clair. LocationI would guess the location to be on the North side of Belle Isle and, of course, the Detroit River looking N by NW. Exposed upholsteryWhat always amazes me about these beautiful old cars is that the "interior" is so exposed to weather. I mean, even with the top up, much of the seats must have gotten wet and dirty in nasty weather. [The same as with most horse-drawn conveyances. - Dave] The Big PictureWhat a difference the full size view makes! To my old eyes, I was looking at a junker on a dirt road. I super-sized and what a surprise. Vrooom - - VrooomThe only caption fitting this action-packed scene. How to prevent a bad hair day.Interesting that the passenger is on the rumble seat seeing where she has been rather than next to the driver seeing where they are going. Must not have wanted to get a hair out of place. I guess the top folded down does make an effective windshield. [She's on the sidewalk. - Dave] Belle IsleThe car is a Packard runabout, probably a Model S (24) from 1906. Location is on Belle Isle. The urn at the bridge (far left) is the clue. The City of Detroit is in the background, on the other side of the Detroit River. Front axleI'm trying to understand the front axle setup, I can see the steering arm/rod but there seem to be two things ending in midair? [That's the starting crank. -Dave] Keep pushing, Dear!Surprised that no one posted a comment on the lady riding facing backwards on the rear of the car. I don't think she's in an actual seat, based on other photos of 1906 Packards that I've seen. [She's on the sidewalk. - Dave] Yet another optical illusionUpon further inspection, the woman I thought was riding on back of the auto is actually strolling along the walk behind it. Gas or Electric?I suspect that's a gas lamp behind the car, due to (a) a lack of any visible wires and (b) the rungs to allow the lamplighter to climb up there. [It's a carbon arc lamp. You can see the wires at the top. The rungs are for whoever had to trim the electrodes. - Dave] Packard headlampsThe Packard (or any other car of this era) did not have "carbon arc" headlamps. Rather, they were powered by acetylene. There is a brass canister on the passenger running board that opens up and hold 1 to 2 quarts of water. When you want acetylene you pour in a small amount of calcium carbide crystals and the resulting chemical reaction with H2O produces acetylene. The tank is quickly sealed and the pressurized gas goes through tubes to the headlamps. There the gas burns and creates light. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Moesta's Tavern: 1910
... the site, which was and is on the corner of the entry to Belle Isle. The building had earlier been physically moved back so it wouldn’t ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2023 - 3:05pm -

Detroit circa 1910. "Automobile on Jefferson Avenue at East Grand Boulevard." Backdropped by Moesta's Tavern, the city's "most famous east side saloon." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Car IDPackard Model 30 Now they race to beat the lightToday the intersection of East Jefferson Avenue and East Grand Boulevard is unrecognizable compared to the 1910 photo. But this once beautiful French Norman/Queen Anne house on E Grand in this photograph is the same house as in street view, below. To the right is the intersection where Moesta's Tavern once resided, now the site of a Tim Hortons drive thru; or a Starbucks if you pull into the parking lot. Victimized by Advertising The tavern survived Prohibition but not Mad Men. Per the Detroit Free Press of May 25, 1936, demolition of the Old Moesta Tavern was about to begin. The plan was to erect an advertising sign on the site, which was and is on the corner of the entry to Belle Isle. The building had earlier been physically moved back so it wouldn’t be in the middle of Jefferson Blvd when it was widened. After the demolition, the business was to reopen in an existing building behind the new sign. Our longtime family business sat about a block away (and has been a grassy field since the ‘70’s). The Freep bemoaned the pending loss of the bar in the legacy building. It was originally built and used by by Strohs Brewery and was installed in the tavern about 1889. Wonder what happened to it. Today it would be transplanted to a cherished new location. For years, places like Senate Resale/Detroit Antique Mall would recycle the endless stream of elaborate Detroit Detritus, intricate building material mined from locals demolishing what was left behind from decades of an incredible building and business boom that wasn’t sustained. Aye carumbaI used to make prank calls there all the time. Those upstairs porchesMy grandmother in Detroit had a big double brick house with the upstairs porch. I loved their great view and giant elm trees lining the street. Earlier PackardThe car looks like an earlier Packard Model L from about 1904, perhaps with non factory fenders with a step in between. The Packard 30 wasn't introduced until 1907. Car and DriverI've been a Shorpy aficionado for years now... and one thing (among many) I've noticed is that even back 100 years, the "hot cars" were more likely than not, driven by older men who had the means to afford the toys, and who were looking to a machine to give them one last "giddy-up". Nowadays, I see the older men in my town taking their mid-engine Corvettes or their 911s out for a leisurely spin through the center of town. The equation between age, earning power, and automotive consumption has not changed in over 100 years. Same Dude - Same Day?Could this image have been taken on the same day as this image? https://www.shorpy.com/node/11496?size=_original#caption Driver has the same bowler hat and same black velvet collar on his jacket. Location is within a half-mile -- one image is on Belle Isle and the other is on Jefferson Avenue and East Grand Blvd. entrance road to Belle Isle. The car appears to be the same. Back in 2011 I thought the car was a Packard Model 24 or "S" from 1906 somewhat based on the circa year of 2008. Now as I compare the two images the car is still a Packard but maybe a Runabout Model 30 or Model 18 from either 1907 to 1909. Finally, in Doug Floor Plan's image of the French Norman/Queen Anne home there is a building two doors down (to the south) with a curved archway. That building at 112 East Grand Blvd was one of Detroit's first ever charging stations for Baker and Detroit Electric cars. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Detroit Photos, DPC, Eateries & Bars)
Start Your Engines: 1903
... any activity or talk of restoration for years now. Belle Isle Out in the river, behind City Hall, you can see Belle Isle in the mist. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2014 - 12:27pm -

Detroit circa 1903. "Wayne County Building, looking east across Detroit River from Majestic Building." Opposite the Detroit Carriage Goods factory at right we find a sign advertising the business of William E. Metzger, pioneering dealer in Automobiles. Also: a "moonlight tower." 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Very Tall TowerThis shot gives us a good look at one of the moonlight towers and its proportions compared to the buildings around it. Is that #6?In 1896, Austin, Texas bought 31 of the Detroit moonlight towers. 17 are still standing, including one a block from my home (listed as Tower No. 6 on Wikipedia). Just this morning I chatted with a neighbor snapping photos of the pair of redtail hawks who overlook their domain from the top. The steamerLooks like it could be Columbia, launched by Detroit Ship Building in Wyandotte in 1902. Along with Ste. Clair (Toledo, 1910), she carried Detroiters to and from Bob-Lo Island amusement park near Amherstburg, Ontario, until 1991. Wonderful memories. I believe that both vessels are still around, in the hands of foundations dedicated to their restoration. Hey, I know that building!The white building upper left is The Palms apartment building. Gorgeous building inside in the early 1990's. I have always been so intrigued by it. Bob-Lo boats were so cool. Beautiful woodwork. A very soot-y city back then. Thanks for this photo. ColumbiaBoth ships have been laid up for years rotting away. Columbia was shrink-wrapped for a time, but now its all tattered and ignored. There has not been any activity or talk of restoration for years now. Belle IsleOut in the river, behind City Hall, you can see Belle Isle in the mist. Being that Bob-Lo is in the opposite direction downriver and the Bob-Lo boat docks are south of the area in this picture, I think the steamer you're seeing is one of the Belle Isle ferries and not the Columbia; there would be no reason for her to be so far upriver. I think many years after this photo, the Columbia and her sister would do moonlight cruises that would take them upriver, but only in the moonlight and years after this. Steamerbobzyerunkl, I thought the exact same thing when I saw that ship on the river. I have many happy memories of riding on the Columbia and the Ste. Claire while on my way to fun and sun on Bob-Lo Island. As for the Wayne County Building, in July 2014, the Wayne County Commission approved the sale of the building along with a county-owned parking lot at 400 E. Fort Street to a New York investment group for $13.4 million. The building is expected to be renovated for single tenant occupancy. Here is a more recent shot of the Wayne County Building: The PalmsThanks to kstan for identifying The Palms, an outstanding engineering achievement in its day. I was once told that it was the world's first air conditioned apartment building, but I cannot confirm this. Peche Island + ColumbiaThere was a reason for the Columbia to sail that far up the river. Peche Island. The island was at this time owned by the Detroit, Belle Isle & Windsor Ferry Co, which also owned Boblo island. I the attached picture from the Detroit publishing company, you can see the same boat docked at Peche Island. Palms restoredThe Palms apartments, brand new in this photo, were recently restored. Other buildings that I recognize as still standing are SS. Peter and Paul church and rectory, and the little triangular building next to the courthouse. SS Columbia finally leaves DetroitI was wrong in a previous post. They just towed the Columbia out of Detroit Tuesday September 16th. Looks like it is going to be restored and moved to the Hudson Valley. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Streetcars)
Fishbowl: 1908
The Belle Isle Park Aquarium in Detroit circa 1908. Its cavernous spaces and glass ... cool! Gone, almost The building is still there on Belle Isle, but the city closed the aquarium last year due to Detroit's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/10/2023 - 4:16pm -

The Belle Isle Park Aquarium in Detroit circa 1908. Its cavernous spaces and glass viewports afforded aquatic life a fascinating peek at the bipedal terrestrial creatures known as homo sapiens. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Hey, what's in that vase?Ewwwww... Those spittoons just disappeared over the years. And leaving our local museums spit-free except for the occasional cobra or llama. Bet there were some great echo effects bouncing off all the tile work. As a wee bipedaling homo sapien I remember testing out such places with gleeful boy noises. That is one magnificent barrel arch beyond the equally grand dome ceiling. A Sign of CivilizationI await the return of spittoons to all public buildings. PixelatedIt's interesting how the brickwork resembles pixels in a digital photo. [Or a TV. Which was my impression, too -- "These tiles are tiling!" - Dave] In Swimming ColorThe aquarium today, in all its green glory. The forward lookBrass expectoration appurtenances notwithstanding (say that fast five times), this photo has a distinct contemporary feel to it - the lighting, natural yet at the same time seeming to be carefully arranged, plus the composition. I can see it on slick paper in an upscale lifestyle-type magazine, advertising fashions, perfumes or other snazzy stuff. Come to think of it, the visual aesthetic, if not the architecture, reminds me of that of the Case Study homes photographs. The pixelation-like effect of the brickwork is also eerily arresting. League of Extraordinary Museum-GoersWow, the first thing I thought was "steam-punk." Those brass railings and the radiator and the projecting stands for the aquariums are all very cool! Gone, almostThe building is still there on Belle Isle, but the city closed the aquarium last year due to Detroit's disastrous financial situation. Sigh. --Ray in Henderson, NV The Shocking TruthI remember the electric eel that would swim around in its tank and periodically light up a neon sign. Pewabic Tiles Another Detroit treasure with tiles made by Pewabic Pottery, which is still in business. Really SciFiAfter the "Lady in the Lake," this image is the most striking I have ever seen on Shorpy (and that's saying something!) Thank you Dave! Wow, wow, wow, wow, wowThis photo is really ... eerie. It just looks so different from modern times that I can hardly believe it ever happened. And how in the world did they clean the tanks on those ornate stands jutting out into the middle? Is that an optical illusion, or does the round railing keep one from falling down to another story below? Thank you for posting the modern photo showing the green tile. I never would have guessed the color. I hope Detroit does better this year, and I hope they can keep this place open in the future. But what did they do with the fish?I visited the aquarium with my first grade class in the spring of 1957, the high point of the school year. And it was foreign travel from Windsor Ontario. Back then, we only needed notes from our mothers to cross the border! Life AquaticI've got relatives in Detroit of long standing, but I've never heard of this delight until now. There are a few more present-day pictures (how dazzling that green tile is!) on the tour here: http://www.belleisleaquarium.com/aquarium_tour.htm Yes, thanks KwameThank you Kwame for closing our wonderful aquarium just so you could spend all the money on your criminal activity. What a shame. Recent pictures that I have seen show that the former aquarium is now full of crap and is being used for storage. Nice. FramesI really like the frames surrounding the wall tanks, presenting the displayed sea-life like works of art. I wonder if the frames were painted gold or silver to look like gilding. Fate of the fishThe fish were loaned out to various aquariums across the country. Come visit the aquarium again. Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium care for the koi that overwinter in the basement. They are usually there on Saturdays, late morning, caring for the fish. Check out their website, belleisleaquarium.com for more information or to get involved. The original aquarium frames were constructed from cypress, a wood particularly resistant to damage from moisture, and were gilded. The frames were carved in an egg and dart motif to frame the exhibits as if they were canvases. The frames were removed during the 1955 renovation and replaced with stainless steel. The lovely tiles are green glass. They were not made by Pewabic pottery ... a common misconception. Eero SaarinenI too thought it was a modern building. Very prescient design. Love it!!Re-posted to Michigan in Pictures with links to more historical information on Belle Isle Aquarium! (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Education, Schools)
Woodward Avenue: 1917
... customers with a "Sight Seeing Trip around the city, Belle Isle, or Water Works Park." Given the description of the street banner, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/24/2012 - 9:50pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1917. "Looking up Woodward Avenue." Dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. "Mellow as Moonlight"If I was a drinkin' man, I would be sippin' some a that Cascade whiskey. Motor city, for sure!Not one single horse in view. Temporal AcheMan, this is one of those Shorpy photos that really make me wish I had a time machine. Not much leftAbout the only thing still remaining is the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, and even it has been moved about 300 feet from where it stood for 130 years. An amazing photo. Casting against TypeI see the film "Somewhere in Georgia" is playing, where Ty Cobb stars surprisingly as a small-town Georgia baseball player who signs with the Detroit Tigers. Health InsuranceAlmost 100 years later, the country is in a major pique over health Insurance and the Detroit Creamery had the answer all along. This maybe the best urban photograph yet, it certainly is the busiest. Notice the #2 streetcar?It's got one of those fancy-schmancy 'people scoopers' on it, like this: https://www.shorpy.com/node/4468 HodgepodgeOne of the best urban pictures yet! Too much to take in at one sitting; The Opera House, that wonderful memorial, the traffic, those streetcars. I wonder what the tent was for in front of that fountain, just across from the Opera House. FascinatingThere's so much to look at in this photo. I especially enjoy seeing people going about their daily lives, not posing for a camera. The movie theater sign says "All Next Week, Somewhere in Georgia". According to IMDB.com "Somewhere in Georgia", starring Ty Cobb, was filmed in the winter of 1916 and released in June 1917. Is the 1915 date on the photo in error? [Do we know what "circa" means? - Dave] An Edison ElectricI notice that the Edison Electric is being driven by a woman. My grandmother (who lived in Detroit) said that the only car she ever drove was an Edison Electric. She was afraid of driving a gasoline-powered car. [Women liked electrics because there were no gears to shift, and no clutch -- shifting and clutching on cars of that era required quite a bit of muscle. - Dave] Cloudy crystal ballCover story in Time Magazine, October 5, 2009: "The Tragedy of Detroit: How a great city fell, and it it can rise again." Speaking of moonlightFarewell, good moonlight towers. Twenty years gone by the time of this photo. Is it a coincidence that Shorpy has hit upon another star of the silent screen? The theater beneath the Blackstone Cigar sign (far right)features Gladys Brockwell, who, like Kay Laurell (1890-1927), died in her thirties. Horrific 1929 car crash in California. Merrill FountainThe Merrill Fountain in front of the Opera House still exists, too. Granted, it was moved about seven miles up the road to Palmer Park. Before it was called Wootwart (Woodward)The definition of the "good old days" ... Traffic LightsGreat image. Did traffic lights look different then, or did they not have them in Detroit? [In 1917, traffic signals came on two legs. - Dave] Re: An Edison ElectricLooks more like a Detroit Electric car than the very rare Edison. The main reason the ladies like the electric car was no crank starting. Charles Kettering changed that a few years later with the electric starter motor if IC engines. Notice the complete absenceof horse poop. And horses. Stop sign doesn't apply...Surprised to see that pedestrains do not follow traffic signs as they crossed the streets. It seems that those signs were for trolleys and cars only. It anwered my question why my g-g-great uncle got killed by a trolley. ProsperityWow! You can almost hear the hustle and bustle of prosperity in this amazing photograph -- the essence of early 20th century proud American urbanity. Go to Google Earth or some other mapping web site and visit the corner of Woodward and Fort today -- a dreary, faceless, lifeless desert of glassy highrises without a pedestrian in sight. HeartbreakingWhen I go through Detroit now it is a vast third world, broken down, trashed city, with gangs and thugs peering from behind collapsed buildings. How in the name of all that is worthy could this magnificent American city come to what it is today? Almost makes me want to watch Glenn Beck. Oh what a feelingI had to smirk a bit when I opened of the intersection on Google streets and the first thing I saw was a shiny Toyota. FABULOUSThis image is go busy and wonderful. There is so much to notice. I wonder what the conversations were and so much more. There is a tent in the middle of the square to the left of the statue. Why? What is the statue of? All in WhiteI love the woman all in white crossing the street with her plaid skirted friend (near the front of the photo, just before the frontmost car). She looks so different than everyone else. I bet the two women just walking into the frame below them are talking about her. She's showing ankle AND calf! I'm sure she'll be a flapper in a few years! The girl in whiteI think that the girl in white is in fact a girl - probably a young teen accompanying her mother (the lady in the plaid skirt). Therefore she would be perfectly well dressed for her age. However that also means that she would be in the right demographic to become a flapper once the twenties (which would coincide with her twenties) rolled around. Great picture - Lord I could look at it for hours! That banner over the street"ENLIST NOW! YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU" And to your left...Seems even Detroit had its requisite "Seeing..." touring bus company. I count three "charabancs" in this photo, one across the street from Bond's with "WELLS" emblazoned on the back, and two in the centre-left crammed with mostly female tourists. Wonder what they were off to see next? I'm loving the little insignificant human moments the photographer caught and immortalized: the man at the lower left trying to make something out on a bulletin board; the hefty many putting his arm around his companion's waist next to the memorial; three ladies converging outside the theater. Fantastic. The building on the far leftis the 1896 Majestic Building, designed by the famous Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. Among other things, Burnham also designed the Flatiron Building in NYC, and oversaw the construction of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The Majestic was Detroit's tallest building until 1909, when the Ford Building (also a Burnham creation) was completed. The Ford still stands today, as well as Burnham's other Detroit creations, the David Whitney Building and the Dime Building. Sadly the Majestic was torn down in 1962 to make way for the exponentially less-interesting 1001 Woodward Building. “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die, but long after we are gone be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistence. Remember that our sons and our grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty.” -Daniel H. Burnham Sight Seeing in Detroit ca. 1917The Dietsche Sight Seeing Company was one of several companies that offered tours of Detroit back in this time period. Below is a photo of their advertisement offering their services to local companies who might want to entertain their out-of-town customers with a "Sight Seeing Trip around the city, Belle Isle, or Water Works Park." Given the description of the street banner, this photo was probably taken sometime around June 5, 1917, which was the date on which all men between the ages of 21 and 31 were required to register for the draft. Soldiers and Sailors MonumentStill nearby, but not as nicely maintained. Very Nicely MaintainedThe Soldiers & Sailors monument is actually very well maintained. Notice how it's not all blackened with soot as in the old photo. When you view it up close you can also see where some very nice restoration has recently been done. Not everything in Detroit is a rotting hulk. Still busyNot like this, but the ice skating rink at Campus Martius is already set up and would be approximately directly in front of the Detroit Opera House. Downtown Detroit is not the home of thugs or crime at all, really, but is sadly quiet when the businesses are closed. Many of the buildings are still here, and magnificent. Come visit before they tear them all down. I'll be ordering a large print of this image! Thank you Shorpy. Re. "Mellow as Moonlight"I saw this photo a few days ago, and, like GeezerNYC, I was quite struck by the Cascade Whiskey billboard. Now, I know that Geo. Dickel is still in business, and I was familiar with Dickel's Tennessee Sipppin' Whiskey and Old No. 8, but I had never heard of Cascade. It must have gone the way of the buggy whip and Lydia Pinkham, I thought. But then today I stopped at the liquor store after work to pick up a bottle of wine, and GUESS WHAT THEY HAD?!?! shhhh...too loud. So, then and I bought some. And do you guys know what? It's pretty goood. I';m drikning it right now. And I just wanna True story I swear. Hey! do you know what? I bought some oft hat Cacsade whiskey? Or is it whishky? Aanyway, I just wanna You know what/ You guys are greatf. I just wanna Hudson's Grows, and...Hudson's grew with Detroit, and perhaps inevitably, declined with Detroit. Cascade HollowThe current Cascade Hollow Whiskey was created to deal with a shortage of the Dickel No. 8 and then just hung around. They didn't have enough whiskey of a certain age so they made a new brand and put their younger stuff in it so that the quality of the No. 8 wouldn't suffer. The Cascade Hollow has been discontinued, but it's still on the shelves in many places. The name Cascade was replaced by the Dickel name after Prohibition and a number. In order of price (& quality) the current Dickel offerings are: (Cascade Hollow) Dickel No. 8 Dickel No. 12 Dickel Barrel Select (which is one of the best whiskeys I've ever had. And I've had a lot.) Anyway, Dickel is currently owned by the evil international spirits conglomorate Diageo, which also owns Guinness, Hennessey, Smirnoff, Johnny Walker, Tanqueray, Bushmills, Cpt. Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Crown Royal and many many more. I can't relate to this picture at allThere is no one in this picture that looks like me or anyone else in my family and for that matter most of my friends...maybe that's how most of the people making comments about it want Detroit to look like. Movie ID helpIn the background, there appears to be a movie showing called "The Spoilers", but Wikipedia says it came out in 1914, not 1917. Just below that it looks like "Barrymore (?) as Georgia" and to the left of that is "Ty". Anyone have some ideas as to which movies are being advertised? [The movie is "Somewhere in Georgia," with Ty Cobb, released in 1917. - Dave] Re: Re: An Edison ElectricMy great-great-grandfather Frank Montgomery Foster was selling Kissel Kars in Detroit. In 1913, he also had "one of the Detroit's finest garages at the corner of Gratiot Avenue and Grand Boulevard." It looks like the two cars in the bottom left of the photo (with the barrel fronts) may be Kissels, but I don't know enough about autos of the era to ID them. KernsMy co-worker's last name is Kerns. I showed him this picture one day and eventually forwarded it to him. He then forwarded picture to his family and learned that his mother Americanized their Polish name around 1917 after seeing that building "Kern's Children's Clothes." One of the best!The photo is insanely busy and the comments led me on a couple scavenger hunts online. Introduced to Gladys Brockwell, Daniel Burnham, Cascade, Dietsche company, etc. A very entertaining hour and a half on this one pic! Of course, being from Detroit makes it that much more interesting. Also, Heartbreaking, Detroit is a pheonix. You watch what she can do! The people have so much spirit. We love our city like a member of our family. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Detroit Photos, DPC, Streetcars)
Forever Young: 1908
Detroit circa 1908. "Waders at Belle Isle Park." Fourteen kids who'll never grow up. 8x10 inch glass negative, ... Cannot imagine Cannot imagine the water on Belle Isle being clean enough to wade in. A different time, indeed! (The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/24/2012 - 7:17pm -

Detroit circa 1908. "Waders at Belle Isle Park." Fourteen kids who'll never grow up. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Tresses and dressesAre those two with short hair and what looks to be dresses boys or girls? I know some swimming outfits could possibly look that way, but they look like boys except for the the dresses. Maybe they are girls and had to have their hair cut for some reason, like a previous high fever. I've read that was done sometimes. Just can't get enough of looking at this picture! A&F Spring '08The kid on the right looks a mite peeved about something. Never grow up Was that a Peter Pan reference, or is there something in the water they should know about? Sucked inI am really drawn into this picture. Wonder whatever became of these children. I would love to see a picture of the same spot today. The JourneyThis picture reminds me of a previous Shorpy picture showing the participants of an office Christmas party. I was amazed at what life stories that seemed to be coming out of that picture and I feel the same way here. Each of the 14 seems to radiate an individual life energy that causes me to wonder what eventually did happen in their lives. Were they happy? Were they fulfilled? Were they doctors, lawyers, mothers, fathers, factory workers, craftsmen, politicians - even criminals? And when I think they if they lived a full life, they saw WW1, the Depression, the industrialization of the U.S., WW2, the Korean war, the idealistic 50's, the turbulent 60's, the polyester 70's and perhaps even the "takeover, Junk Bond" 80's that also heralded the start of the Computer generation. Wow, that's quite a journey! SurprisedTo see girls with short hair. Would there be a reason for that? Safety GripThat little girl on the right knee-deep in the water is having her shoulders gripped by a girl who can only be her older sister. I recognize the clench that only an older sister can do to her baby sister or brother. Cannot imagineCannot imagine the water on Belle Isle being clean enough to wade in. A different time, indeed! (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Kids, Swimming)
And Step on It: 1910
... hood and leather retaining strap. William B. and the Belle of the Bakeries On June 5, 1906, the Common Council of the City of Detroit granted the Belle Isle Bakery permission to erect in front of 1383 Jefferson Avenue a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/31/2017 - 12:33pm -

Detroit circa 1910. "Bastendorff block and G. & R. McMillan Co. store, Jefferson Avenue." 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. It's a Packard model 30It's a Packard model 30 - the car that made Packard one of the premier luxury marques. Easily distinguishable from the junior model 18 by the longer, larger hood and leather retaining strap. William B. and the Belle of the BakeriesOn June 5, 1906, the Common Council of the City of Detroit granted the Belle Isle Bakery permission to erect in front of 1383 Jefferson Avenue a “temporary canvas banner, about 15 feet above the sidewalk, for a period of 3 months.” In October of that year, the Michigan Labor Inspector noted that the bakery employed 3 males and 2 females, all over the age of 16. William B. Thompson was the City of Detroit Treasurer from 1898 to 1906 and served as Mayor from 1907 to 1908 and 1911-1912. And Step In ItLooking at whatever is along both sides of that road (mud? leftover winter slush?) I say these people are most likely to step in it. Going to Grandpa's house?This is the block between Helen and East Grand Blvd. A block to the east of this shot on Field my then 6 year old grandfather is growing up. With a large public park (Belle Isle) just across a short bridge, and a complex of amusement parks, beer gardens, and breweries just across the street, this was a bit of a honky-tonk area in those days. By the age of 12, before the advent of prohibition, my grandpa was earning dimes selling papers, shining shoes, and delivering buckets of beer for the patrons of the neighborhood saloons. Interesting to see that Packard speeding through the shot. My great-grandfather worked at Packard, whose main plant lay a couple of miles north on Grand Blvd., before his death in the year of this photo. Over the next several decades my grandfather, my grandmother, and my father would all at various times work for the company too. The buildings shown in this photo were replaced in the early 1960s by a Howard Johnson's restaurant, which soon became a Big Boy. That Big Boy just closed in April 2017 and will be replaced by a new housing and commercial development in suddenly booming Detroit. Postdated Photo With a Peculiar PackardA review of Detroit city directories indicates that this photo is actually from 1906 or 1907. By 1908 the Belle Isle Bakery had become the Park Dining Parlor, and by sometime in 1907 the 1389 Jefferson address was the pool hall of Joseph P. Theisen instead of a cigar and tobacco store. Several other changes took place in this block prior to 1910 including the G. & R. McMillan grocery store becoming Clifford Brothers confectioners. Of interest is the unusual striped barber's pole near the street which is for Joseph Quenby's barber shop (he was also the proprietor of the cigar and tobacco store there and next door). The Packard body seems to be from a 1906 Model S, also called the Model 24, based on the detail difference between the 1906, 1907, and 1908 years. The covered aprons above the running boards and the height of the fenders next to the hood point to the chassis being from a 1907 Model 30-U. The 1908 Packard Model 30 hood was much lower with the front of the fenders at nearly the same height as the outer edges of the radiator. This leads me to wonder if this particular car was built at the beginning of the 1907 model year using a leftover body from 1906. You can see some of the model year differences in the images below. The Packard Model 18, mentioned below, was not introduced until the summer of 1908. The Model 30-U was introduced in August of 1906 as a 1907 product, and was made until May 23, 1907. This model of Packard was made for six years. Base price for a Touring body was $4,200 which was up $200 from the 1906 Model S Double Side Entrance Touring car. Packard made 1,127 for the model year. When the last 1907 built rolled off the assembly line, Packard decorated the car and paraded it through the streets announcing their achievement. They ceremoniously drove the first 1908 Model 30-UA through the streets on July 6, 1907. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Moonlight Tower: 1899
... can see this cannon at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, as it was removed there when the city hall was razed in 1960. Snap, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/17/2020 - 10:35am -

Detroit circa 1899. "Majestic Building." And a good view of one of the "moonlight tower" arc lamp standards whose base can be seen in the previous post. Some of these towers are said to have made their way to Austin, Texas, where they are the sole remaining examples of their kind. View full size. Public TransportationIt looks like you don't have to wait long for a streetcar. The lady carries a swordI am intrigued by the statue in the lower right. Does she still stand? And what is her story? All gone...nearly Corner of Woodward and Michigan Avenue. That's the old city hall at the left side of the photo. As in the previous photo of the old post office, nothing in this photo remains today. Well, almost. You can see this cannon at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, as it was removed there when the city hall was razed in 1960. Snap, Crackle and Pop!The early carbon arc street lamps were not necessarily as popular an innovation as one might assume. I don't know what Detroit residents thought of theirs, but a similar system was installed in San Diego in 1886, and earned many bitter complaints from the residents. The lamps were too bright for one thing, and people who had grown up with candles and kerosene lantern lights were appalled by the harsh, blue-white arc lights that cast shadows deeper than the noonday sun. The company's solution was to raise the masts to as tall as 125 feet (below, in an 1887 photo), but it scarcely helped. And the heavy carbon rods were exposed to the moist and often foggy night air from the adjacent bay, resulting in an all-night racket of pops and small explosions that kept everyone awake. San Diego's carbon arc lamps lasted only to 1889, when the lighting company failed in a local economic collapse, but their removal was unlamented by the long-suffering residents. Peninsular ElectricThere's another tower at the next intersection. It must have been successful because I can't see any remains of the gaslights that must have preceded it. The Peninsular Electric Light Company was founded in 1891 to run Detroit's street lights. It seems there were 142 of them (but probably not 142 towers). Aglow in AustinI live about two miles from one of the "moon towers" in Austin. It's very high up, and shines brightly every night. Of course, there's lots of other light around, so it's hard to tell just how much it's casting. I've often wondered what it would look like if it were the only light source. Austin memoriesI'd forgotten all about these. I moved to Austin for college 40 years ago and lived near a light tower myself. It wasn't "the only light source," but Austin in those days was a much, much smaller town with far less light pollution than today. The artificial moonlight was noticeable from almost anywhere in town, as I recall. Check the Plaque DaveLooks like they bought them new in Austin. [Hello? The plaque doesn't have a thing to say about new or used. There are, however, plenty of references describing how the city of Austin bought 31 used towers from Detroit in 1894. - Dave] Sword carrying ladyThe lady is on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, dedicated in 1872 to honor Michigan's Civil War veterans. The monument was moved about 100 feet a few years ago. RE: circaI know the Library of Congress says circa 1880-1899. But I think this might be 1902. Because the sale signs say, "A BUSINESS REVOLUTION Change of Ownership-Management". Which jibes with this, from 1902: Pardridge & Walsh, dry goods merchants, for many years at the corner of Woodward avenue and Congress street, purchased the immense stock and fixtures of C. A. Shafer in the Majestic building for about $140,000, and continued the management of both stores until the end of the year. [Finish reading the signs and you'll see that the photo shows C.A. Shafer moving into the building, not out of it. This negative is listed in the 1899 Detroit Publishing catalog. - Dave] Cadillac SquareIf that's the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the lower left right (as identified in earlier posts of Cadillac Square), then I'm guessing this photo was taken from the Hotel Pontchartrain. Eight Storeys in the Naked CityFrom Printer's Ink, July 5, 1899: "The finest commercial structure in Michigan is the Majestic Building, Detroit, occupied by the department store of C.A. Shafer ... Mr. Shafer uses eight floors and the basement." In 1901 Shafer was bought out by Pardridge & Blackwell. This photo must date from between 1896, when the building was completed, and 1901, when P & B took over. Also, General William Booth (as advertised on the street banner) did a tour of U.S. cities in 1898. Appearing at the AuditoriumGeneral William Booth wasn't just any Salvation Army speaker, he founded the organization in 1878, after the 13 years that he and his wife Catherine spent leading his East End (London) organization, The Christian Mission, nee The Christian Revival Society, itself formed after his four unhappy years as a Methodist (they wanted him to take a pastorate, he wanted to travel and evangelize). Initially regarded as a crank, by the time of this photo both William Booth and his Salvation Army were highly regarded. I am wondering if The Auditorium refers to the Auditorium of the Detroit Museum of Art, which at the turn of the century was criticized for booking "shallow" speakers, not aligned with the "purposes for which the art museum was organized." (see: "Museum on the Verge," by Jeffrey Apt, Wayne State Press, 2001) 1896-1962The Majestic was Detroit's second skyscraper. Soldiers and Sailors MonumentThe lady in the lower right stands atop the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which commemorates the civil war. The statue, as mentioned above, was recently moved about 100 feet, to accommodate the re-creation of a park in Campus Martius. Its still there and looks as good as the day she was unveiled. Stop in sometime and have a look. Its at the heart of downtown Detroit. Demolition of City HallThe corner of old Detroit City Hall is seen at the left edge of the photo. In one of the most notorious incidents in the history of Detroit, as preservationists and boosters alike fought to save the old city hall, an injuction was filed to stop the demolition. The contractor snuck a bulldozer into the site at midnight and demolished the portico on the front of the building, compromising the structural integrity of the edifice, and forcing the full demolition. Moonlight Towers in AustinThere are indeed remaining moonlight towers here in Austin. Seventeen of them are still in use, retrofitted with incandescent bulbs in, I think the 1950's. More info here. lick below to enlarge. So little trafficLots of streetcars. Some commercial drays. A handful of private coaches. And many pedestrians. Looks something like Moscow would have until the end of the Soviet Union. Plenty of space on those broad boulevards. Austin TowersSee all 15 Moonlight Towers - http://www.andymattern.com/moonlighttowers/ Majestic DemolitionI was one of the two crane operators that participated in the demolition of the building in 1962. We hoisted a small 10 ton Bantam crane and a small John Deere loader-dozer atop the building and slowly worked our way to the third floor where the building was becoming unstable. We removed the equipment and finished the demolition from the ground. I worked for Arrow Wrecking Co. for nearly 20 years and am now retired to Upper Michigan. The photos of the demolition brought back many fond memories of my old home town. Thanks. I wonderWho can read THIS from the street. Not all goneRDown3657 stated that everything in this photograph is gone. There are at least two buildings on Merchant Row that are still standing. The Vapley Building (look for Vapley Brother Shoes in the photograph) is currently being renovated into loft apartments, and the building immediately south with the arched windows (I do know know of a name for it- it is at 1401 Woodward at the corner of Grand River. There may be others still standing, but those are the only two I can identify with 100% certainty. And, of course, the Soldiers and Sailors statue still remains. (Technology, The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Streetcars)
Love Canal: 1907
Detroit circa 1907. "Band concert on Grand Canal, Belle Isle Park." Once upon a time it might have been possible to woo a girl with ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2012 - 9:53pm -

Detroit circa 1907. "Band concert on Grand Canal, Belle Isle Park." Once upon a time it might have been possible to woo a girl with just a humble canoe, but now you need plush pillows and a phonograph. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Cads!Ha, I was wondering where you were going with that for a minute Dave! I have to say, this is one of the most interesting photos I've seen on Shorpy. There seems to be a number of unchivalrous cads who are getting their dates to do the rowing, with the chap bottom right looking particularly unimpressed. Or perhaps he's not keen on the music. HatsOnce on the water, hats appear to be optional for the gents. Smiles, anyone?No one seems to be having a good time. Those are quite some hairdos on the ladies in the two canoes near the front. And who brings a phonograph to a concert? Chivalry, dead as a doornailI see at least three canoes where the man is taking it easy while the woman does the paddling! Just another chip in the blockfor the suffragettes. I'm assuming the women that are paddling are doing it on their own accord. They most likely demanded both the paddle and man cards from their escorts. Safety LastNo one is wearing a life jacket. And WhyDoes the canoe with the phongraph have a searchlight. The "unimpressed" lad does have an interesting jacket though. Personal audioAlternate title: "Turn That !*#&! Thing Down!: The Early Days" Paddlin' WomenThe next thing you know they'll be asking for the right to vote. Geez! Long Day's JourneyMaybe it's because the concert will be going on into night. Otherwise, why would two of the canoes carry mounted searchlights in the bow? And the guy with the Victrola seems to have a stern lantern as well, just to make sure his night vision is truly shot on the way back. One has to wonder about the power source for these lights in the boats. Decisions, decisions! Battery or kerosene? Not so obvious in 1907. Marine accessoriesInteresting canoe front and center. He has a lantern on one end and what looks like a spotlight of some kind on the other. There is a second canoe which also seems to have a spotlight on it as well. Hoping to get lucky?Are those fellows paddling around with empty pillows hoping to lure a young lady from among the spectators and get lucky? And by lucky I mean will he be able to entice them to paddle the canoe while he lolls about on the cushions like those other lads are doing. iPlodThe modern equivalent to toting the phonograph is being encumbered by an early generation iPod, or, heaven forbid, a Discman. Unthinkable! Maybe the old days weren't so greatAll those people considered their options for the afternoon and chose this? The guy in the boat at lower right looks about as bored as I would have been. He had probably told the girl, "Either you row or we go home. And I hope you refuse to row!" Chivalry Metro ManFret not on the cads - there is a man on the left side pavement pushing a baby carriage. Besides, the boat men discovered that when the women are paddling they are distracted from complaining. Uh oh, I'm going to hear it on this one. Wow, where do I start?So many opportunities for comments on this one. First, Mr. Bored in lower right front, obviously he and his lady are charter members of the Big Button Club. And what's that guy at right center, the one who's laid back and waving -- what could he be saying? Maybe directed at the single guy at left center: "Hey, Fred, if you'd get yourself a girl friend you wouldn't have to do your own paddlin'!" As for "Who brings a phonograph to a concert," indeed! Next thing you know kids will be bringing iPods to their next rock concert. Oh wait, never mind. I get the boatingAnd I get and why it was probably fun (relatively speaking) to row down the canal and all on a nice day (although THAT much of an audience would have made me a bit self-conscious) What I DON'T understand is why all those dressed up folks are just sitting there on either side of the canal, watching. Was it a competition, or is there a concert or something else also going on? Or was life in Detroit in 1907 so boring that you would really WANT to just sit by the side of a canal in fancy duds and watch people row around? Am I missing something here?? [A closer look at the photo (and the caption) might solve the mystery! - Dave] The thread continuesHere. Life jackets and American tragediesJudging by that charmless embankment, this water attraction was man-made (man-dug?), and probably three feet or so deep, so no life jackets were needed. Say, isn't that Theodore Dreiser with the dark jacket lolling in the boat, right foreground, perhaps dreaming up a love story about a guy with a pregnant and poor girl friend but he's really in love with a wealthy young lady and he, oh, I don't know, decides to do away with the unfortunate mother-to-be, or something? "I know what. I'll have him 'accidentally" push her in front of a train. Naw, too messy. Hey, how about they're out on a lonely lake in a canoe, and -- " In the GrooveMy grandparents did the Victor record player in a canoe also. I don't know how they'd keep the record from skipping but I do remember dad being able to get into a canoe without it moving much at all- a skill I'm sure he learned at a young age- he's the littlest one in this canoe! Belle Isle too, c. 1923 (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Tashmoo Too: 1901
... is leaving the Detroit River wharf & is headed for the Belle Isle Park down river from Detroit. Canada is on the other side of the Detroit ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2012 - 3:16pm -

Detroit circa 1901. "Steamer Tashmoo leaving wharf." Another look at the popular excursion steamer with a capacity crowd of day trippers. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Tippy TashmooOK, everybody rush over to the port side and wave to the folks ashore -- kersplash! Hold FastSkipper is waiting to let go the stern line I believe. ObservationsPassengers' only "flotation devices" appear to be their wooden deck chairs. No fencing around the dock area. Ah, the good old days when people didn't sue like crazy. Bicycles were apparently quite popular then. Mostly men on the dock -- did they all send their sweeties off for the day? Something oddSomeone tried to scratch out the shadow of the flag from the negative (near bottom left). Women and Children First!I can see only 4 lifeboats on the port side of the ship, assume there are 4 more on the starboard side for a total of 8. Looking at the number of passengers on the ship, this seems to be a possible miscalculation of "Titanic" proportions. Ladies FirstChivalry seems to have been strong in Detroit. I count only two or three examples of the fairer sex awaiting the next steamer. I imagine the ratio would be far different today. Day Trip The Tashmoo is leaving the Detroit River wharf & is headed for the Belle Isle Park down river from Detroit. Canada is on the other side of the Detroit River. Passengers purchase a 1-day ticket (round trip) to Belle Isle (island). This excursion has been going on at least 110 years. Lots of fun & memories for those who take the trip. Dangerous linesAside from numerous other concerns (by our standards) check out how close the people on the dock are standing to the straining stern line. If that piece of cordage ever snapped it would have whipped across the dock and cut off folks at their knees! Even in 1901 you gotta wonder who was supervising the line handling. The Tashmoo's Date With Doomhttp://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=22 SpringlineMagnificent boat! The photo demonstrates a once standard method of ship handling, the springline. A line is run from a cleat at the stern to a dock piling. The ship ("boat" on the Great Lakes) then "backs against the spring", pulling the stern toward the dock, and causing the bow to swing out into the river. The boat had been docked in the nearer curved slip, and at this point has been swung out almost enough to ring engine ahead and cast off the springline. If the line was doubled around the piling, it could be cast off from the boat's deck, without help from the dock. The Detroit River excursion boats performed this operation many times per day, without tugboats or bow thrusters. A similar setup could be used to get the boat docked. Due to the very fast current in the Detroit River, boats normally dock facing upstream to this day. We rode the later BobLo steamers, Ste. Claire + Columbia, in the early 1980's, and watched this operation done to perfection. These boats were similar to Tashmoo, but had a single propeller instead of Tashmoo's sidewheels,and lacked her sharp prow, making them less elegant and efficient, but more manageable. As with most excursion steamers, the engine room was completely visible, exposed in a well. I got invited down to the engine room with my very young daughter, who still remembers it clearly. My wife's mother spoke fondly of riding the Tashmoo, which wasn't one of the BobLo boats. It normally ran north (at very high speed) from Detroit to Port Huron, with a stop at Tashmoo Park near Algonac. Hoist the Colors!Note the union jack on the foremast. Tashmoo MemoriesAs poor as our fatherless family of ten were in the early 1930s, we did get to ride both the Tashmoo and Put-In Bay boats. When I was 11 or 12, at the target range on Put-In Bay Island I actually shot the stuffed alligator that was on the floor for decor. No one got mad. They just told me to shoot at the targets. Do wish more people knew how beautiful Detroit used to be. Stern LineIt sorta looks like a line is connected to the pier and under tension at the corner of the close pier, running back and around the corner piling. It is positioned such that if it ran to a cleat on the ship somewhere behind the piling it would act as described in assisting the ship to lever itself, with the assist of the current, or perhaps the port wheel, in getting the ship (boat) away from the dock and underway. While in the Navy, we were instructed that the difference between a ship and a boat was that a ship could carry and launch a boat, something a boat cannot do. Don't think that included carrying a dinghy or the like. Don't think the size or type of water factors into the description. Tashmoo HullTake away some of the superstructure and you would have a most beautiful racing steam yacht. I find the design of that hull most attractive. It is interesting that in the previous Tashmoo photo, two vessels are at the same wharf and apparently boarding their passenger near the bow in each case. TurningI don't believe the stern line is still secure. I think the left wheel is turning slow ahead to hold against the dock. That allows the current to swing the bow out into the channel. Let the river do the work. Tashmoo ParkThe steamer Tashmoo's regular run was to Tashmoo Park on Harstens Island at the mouth of the St. Clair River. Some of the park structures still stand. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Please-Freeze: 1917
... Detroit still has a giant ice pile each winter, but on Belle Isle now instead of Washington Blvd. What forms the center of the pile? All ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/13/2011 - 5:30am -

Detroit circa 1917. "Ice fountain, Washington Boulevard." The big icicle with a small request, discreetly stated on that unobtrusive little sign near the man: PLEASE. The rest of the message is up to your imagination. View full size. PleaseDo Not Climb the Ice. PleaseDo not eat the yellow ice. Pleasedo not feed the pigeons ... albeit ones encased in solid ice. +3 (months)Much of it was still there when my great-aunt showed up several months later to have her photo taken with it! Just one questionHow did they accomplish this? Oh, so fountains caused this. Do they still let them run all winter? Is this therefore a yearly spectacle? Detroit Still Does ItDetroit still has a giant ice pile each winter, but on Belle Isle now instead of Washington Blvd. What forms the center of the pile? All the used Christmas trees from downtown! De-Ice FountainThe rest of the year. Pleaseturn off water by November 1. PleaseGet me out of here! If You See Something, Say SomethingThere appears to be an abandoned piece of luggage at the base of the ice fountain. Pleasewatch my valise until I can dig out of this mess! Spectacular!Detroit was once a most spectacular City! They still do it - elsewhereWeird NJ had a photo of the same thing outside a Northern New Jersey office building early in this century. Seemed like a good idea at the timeFor many years, the town of Bethel, Connecticut had an enormous bronze fountain, donated by its most famous native son, Mr. P.T. Barnum. The town deliberately let it run all winter, since the residents loved the appearance of ever-growing icicles. The fountain had to be scrapped in 1923 after many freeze/thaw cycles damaged it beyond repair. Later in the decade, it was replaced with the doughboy statue that still stands today. Coyote vs RoadrunnerSomehow I just I picture Wile E. Coyote on the other end of that sign. PleaseHelp yourself to some ice. Arc LightThe street light appears to be an arc light, rather than incandescent. There are steps to climb up to change the carbon rods. This is a similar source of light to the "moon light" towers in an earlier image. Incredibly, there are still areas of Detroit where these standards are in use, albeit with modern light sources. A few historic areas have even replicated this design. I took this photo in July 2011. Pleasedo not lick. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Swim Teem: 1917
Detroit, Michigan, circa 1917. "Bathing beach at Belle Isle Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2012 - 3:11pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1917. "Bathing beach at Belle Isle Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Find itWhere is Wally? Could've been a great pictureBut someone moved. The sea was empty that day, my friend.Yes, I know it's a lake, but what a spectacle. Speaking of, to the left of the guy in the horizontally striped swimsuit (also on the left) is the one beachgoer I see wearing glasses. The crowd's median age appears to be under 25. Many have around their necks what I am certain are storage locker keys. The abundance of attractive faces is striking, and my personal Best of Da Beach pick are these three bonneted lovelies, who surely occupy the A Table back at their school cafeteria. LookThat guy in the middle looks just like George Michael. Water worksThe spires and standpipes of Water Works Park are seen in the background. What a time to be alive, eh? !!!Gimme an "R"!!!Pictures like this look so current it's hard to believe they are all dead except for the very youngest and even they are in their mid-90s by now if still living! Waiting for the NightThe tower that a couple of people are climbing on here is a sort of miniature version of Detroit's "moonlight" towers. An opposite view from the water, including the beautiful old bathhouse, that clearly shows the entire light tower can be seen here. Carpe DiemAnother one of those shots that whisper to you. That's why I like Shorpy. Waist SizeI love all these beach and swimsuit photos on Shorpy. Goes to show that the misconception that everyone was stick thin compared to people today is so far fetched. You can see all shapes and sizes then and now. Granted there are far more morbidly obese people now. Still I'd say if we took a bunch of people at a modern beach, made them change in to those old wool bathing suits, and took a shot it wouldn't look too different from this. Largest beach crowdToo bad Guinness World Records wouldn't be published until 37 years later. All those peopleYes, they probably are in fact nearly now all gone. But seeing pictures like these collectively nudge us into acknowledging that once they were very much alive and went on to become our grandparents and great-grandparents. My childhood memory of my own grandparents is of them being old and sickly; photos like these help us kind of know them as we may never have had the opportunity. My Kinda TownSo great to see the last few postings featuring my Detroit. With the Detroit Publishing Company associated with so many photos, it's difficult to search for those featuring Detroit. Keep 'em coming! MissingIt's amazing how many people are in this picture and yet there is not one person of color. Seriously? All shapes and sizes?With the possible exception of the blurred woman in the foreground, please find me one in the entire group who would be considered overweight. People of Size & vice versaLooking at this photo I would come to the opposite conclusion. I can't find any obese people and if there any they are certainly in the minority. A photo of today's beachgoers would surely not look like the people in this photo. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Swimming)
Homecoming: 1919
... they called themselves "Polar Bears." They marched on Belle Isle on July 4, 1919. Ninety-four of them were killed in action after the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/29/2011 - 12:42pm -

November 1919. Hoboken, New Jersey. "Dead soldiers from Russia. Funeral services for 103 slain fighting Bolsheviks." 5x7 glass negative. View full size. Uncanny timingThe Polar Bear Descendants Dinner, made up of descendants of the 339th Regiment whose members made up most of the 103 dead, is taking place tonight in Troy, Michigan. A ReminderOf what this weekend should be all about; remembering all those, throughout the years, who gave "their last full measure" to insure our ability to celebrate, and to complain sometimes, being Americans. Embrace Feedom! And thank anyone you meet in the Military, regardless of Branch! Longfellow's commentYour silent tents of green We deck with fragrant flowers Yours has the suffering been, The memory shall be ours. "Nation Honors Men Killed In Russia"The public funeral service took place on November 13 at Pier 4 in Hoboken, after which the coffins were escorted to a mortuary chapel. (N.Y. Times article, Nov. 14, 1919) 100 Yank Dead Brought Back from ArchangelChicago Daily Tribune, Nov 13, 1919      Washington, D.C., Nov.12 - [Special] -- The bodies of 100 midwest soldiers who died in north Russian during the allied campaign against the bolsheviki will arrive at New York late tonight aboard the Lake Daraga. Most of these soldiers were from Michigan, members of the 339th infantry.      Relatives have been notified to communicate with the port utilities officer, Hoboken, N.J., regarding the disposition of the bodies. Chicagoans in the list of dead were:      Leo P. Ellis, private, company I, 339th infantry. Mother, Mrs. Catherine Ellis.      Claude B. Hill, 2d lieutenant, 210th engineers, company A. Father, Dr. Charles Hill, 6330 Kimbark Avenue.      Michael J. Kenney, sergeant, company A, 339th infantry. Brother, Patrick J./ Kenney, 1825 West Garfield Boulevard.      Mattios Kozlousky, private first class, company M, 339th infantry. Sister, Mrs. Martha Getz, 704 West Thirty-first Street. Quite an assortment of gorgeous trucksLooks like the second in line is an air-cooled Franklin. Interesting that they are all different. [That's a Renault an International. The radiator is under the windshield. - Dave] Almost forgotten homecomingFew people remember that we had thousands of troops sent into the chaos of the Russian civil war, on short notice, shortly after the Bolshevik coup overthrew the revolutionary government. Two separate expeditions, in the Archangel-Murmansk region and in Siberia, backed Allied attempts to corral large supplies of in-transit war matériel, bolster loyalist 'White' forces, and evacuate the Czech Legion. The whole mess became politically unsupportable after Armistice and the continued unraveling of the "White" Russian forces, Allied troops were withdrawn in 1920. Good to knowI didn't know that so many Americans fought against Bolsheviks in Russia. They fought for freedom, but they lost. One year later, in 1920, Soviet forces came for Poland. Decisive Polish victory was battle of Warsaw, so unexpected that called "A miracle at the Vistula". Thanks to it we have secured Polish (and European) eastern frontiers for the next eighteen years, till 1939. Thanks, BinkThanks for the simple, but beautiful poem. Says it all! [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow deserves a smidge of credit, too. - Dave] When you think of itIt must be the only time in history where American soldiers actually fought in a war against Red Russian soldiers. About the gorgeous trucksFirst in line is from White Motors, second and fourth are from International Harvester, third is a bit more generic but my money is on Reo. You can almost make out the diagonal script on the front of number two's coffin nose in the full-size version. Finallya place where I can get my eagle washed. International HarvesterI suggest the "Renault" truck is an International Harvester. The lineup left to right is White, International Harvester, Reo, another International. 1919 International Harvester The second truck is a 1919 International Harvester. Model 15The first truck is a 1919 White Model 15. "This is not the Western Front""It is hardly no front at all." So wrote my grandfather in this letter to his parents dated "Archangel, Feb. 14, 1919. He was one of the approximately 5,000 "Polar Bears" of the American North Russia Expeditionary Force who fought the Bolshevik Red Army in North Russia from Sept. 1918 until June 1919 - more than six months after the end of the Great War. He was one of the lucky ones - more than 230 of his fellow soldiers died in North Russia. The "dead soldiers from Russia" shown in this photo were disinterred from the Allied Cemetery in Archangel and shipped home for reburial closer to their families. Archangel finally fell to the Bolshevik forces in Feb. 1920. The remains of most of the other American dead were recovered in 1929 and brought back to the USA. In addition to Sunday night's dinner, the 81st annual Memorial Day Service for the "Polar Bears" was held today at White Chapel Memorial Cemetery in Troy, Michigan. Their service and sacrifice have not been forgotten. In the summer of 1918,In the summer of 1918, President Woodrow Wilson, at the urging of Britain and France, sent an infantry regiment to north Russia to fight the Bolsheviks in hopes of persuading Russia to rejoin the war against Germany. The 339th Infantry Regiment, with the first battalion of the 310th Engineers and the 337th Ambulance and Hospital Companies, arrived at Archangel, Russia, on September 4, 1918. About 75 percent of the 5,500 Americans who made up the North Russian Expeditionary Forces were from Michigan; of those, a majority were from Detroit. The newspapers called them "Detroit's Own,"; they called themselves "Polar Bears." They marched on Belle Isle on July 4, 1919. Ninety-four of them were killed in action after the United States decided to withdraw from Russia but before Archangel's harbor thawed. In 1929, five former "Polar Bears" of the 339th Infantry Regiment returned to north Russia in an attempt to recover the bodies of fellow soldiers who had been killed in action or died of exposure or disease ten years earlier. The group was selected by the members of the Polar Bear Association under the auspices of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The trip was sponsored by the federal government and the State of Michigan. Some picturesArchangel is actually the town where I was born and I was taught in school about British-American troops who invaded Archangelsk back in August of 1918. British memorial cemetery is situated there. British soldiers of WWI and WWII (sailors from polar convoys who were killed by nazis) are buried there. If memory serves me, there were also few American graves. http://autotravel.ru/phalbum.php/90212/137 You can see few interesting photos of WWI period here: http://warhistory.livejournal.com/1574525.html You can use Google translator to read the captions under the pictures. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, G.G. Bain, WWI)
Tree Parking: 1910
The Detroit River circa 1910. "View at head of Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/06/2021 - 4:14pm -

The Detroit River circa 1910. "View at head of Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Crank and PrayThe automobiles pictured here required laborious, hazardous hand-cranking in order to start, and it was near Belle Isle Park that auto manufacturer Byron Carter was killed in a cranking mishap -- inspiring famed engineer Charles Kettering to invent and mass-produce the electric starter (introduced in 1912), surely the most significant of all automotive improvements. Stop crankI read somewhere that Ford introduced a crank with a ratchet that prevented it from kicking back thus preventing injuries. Horseless carriagesRetractable cloth roof, hand-crank start, no side windows. I wonder what these car owners 111 years ago would think of cup holders, A/C, heated seats, and cruise control. Not to mention self-driving cars. If picture was made todaywith exact composition but late model cars it would not have made sense. View from the other sideIn the 1950s our family lived on Esdras Place in Riverside (now Windsor) Ontario, Canada. At the foot of our street was a small park on the Detroit River, and this is where we had family events, and where I learned to swim. We looked north to Belle Isle Park across the river, and ship watching was part of the fun. Here are Kodachrome slides my father took circa 1955. The steamship is the Ralph Budd, which ran from 1905 to 1963. 2 BoatsIn compliance with long time Great Lakes convention, both of the vessels seen, regardless of size, are known as "boats". The larger one is also commonly called an "ore boat", for the intended primary cargo of iron ore, regardless of what material it is carrying at the time. A "ship" is a seagoing vessel that came in via the St. Lawrence Seaway from salt water, and is normally known as a "saltie". The ore boat's name is unclear, but by letter count, a possible name could be "LACKAWANNA", which was active at that time. [The bulk freighter in our photo is the RENSSELAER. - Dave] A modern alternativeFrom a little farther down the Belle Isle shoreline, 111 years later, you can watch the river traffic here: (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Detroit Photos, DPC)
American Idyll: 1905
... Detroit, Michigan, circa 1905. "Bridge in the woods, Belle Isle Park." 8x10 dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2012 - 3:17pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1905. "Bridge in the woods, Belle Isle Park." 8x10 dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. The fashions Are fun to look at but I'm amazed at how much clothing people had to wear back then, even in warm weather. Pretty place.A few trash barrels would help the scenery even more. FLOAnother gem designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. RockwellianIf you look closely, perhaps you can see little Norman on the bank perfecting the scene in his mind and then painting it as is. Under the ElmsThis picture just breaks my heart. The elms are gone, the canoes are gone but I do notice that the littering had already begun. Postcards from the PastPicture perfect. La Grande JatteBeautiful. This instantly reminded me of Seurat's Grande Jatte: Seurat IndeedSame thought, Dahlia. In fact, I had just mentioned that on Shorpy's Facebook Wall. Bad habitsWhat stands out is the litter and here I thought society of the past was more respectful of their surroundings. Guess not! Postcard croppageYou assume that the editing was done for "racist" reasons. But if the kid had been left in, the result would have been a disembodied head at the bottom of the card -- certainly not appealing to any buyer no matter what the race. In addition, the two black kids on the opposite bank were not edited out. Not Quite Picture Perfect ...The post card is from the very SAME photograph, but notice the little black boy, right front, has been retouched out! Too late to bring it to the attention of the folks back in the day! PowerlinesSo they already had power poles and power lines running in the woods in 1905? Who knew? [Believe it or not, people had telephones, telegraphs and electric power in 1905. Also in 1900, 1895, 1890 ... - Dave] Wonderful period pieceI love the hats everyone is wearing, and they are all dressed to the nines! thanks for the opportunity to look in on this time out of time. Sunday in...My first thought when seeing this was also of La Grande Jatte, and as our theater just produced "Sunday in the Park With George," I had a few images that seemed almost to fit: (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Children's Day: 1902
June 4, 1902. "Children's Day on Belle Isle, Detroit." Looks like a good turnout this year. 8x10 inch glass negative, ... kids. Aquarium in the making? Could that be the Belle Isle Aquarium under construction in the background?? I visited it a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 4:30pm -

June 4, 1902. "Children's Day on Belle Isle, Detroit." Looks like a good turnout this year. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. BruegelesqueIt's like a modern version of Bruegel's "Children's Games". Conservatory or AquariumThe brick building IS the Aquarium. They are connected. This discussion waged strong on a certain Detroit forum site yesterday afternoon thanks to this very post. Men without hatsNot here. Nature callsAs a mother, my first task when taking small children anywhere was to scout out the location of the restrooms. I can't see any outhouses in this vast expanse. If you had to walk to one that DID exist out of range in this picture, good luck! What did these people do?? Not just todaySome things apparently never change. My parents always told me, "Every day is children's day." And I told that to my kids, and now their kids. Aquarium in the making?Could that be the Belle Isle Aquarium under construction in the background?? I visited it a couple of times in the '80s. Beautiful building, and I understand it's now being reopened after having been closed for several years. ConservatoryThat looks like the Belle Isle Conservatory going up. That would be consistent with the opening date of 1903 (the aquarium didn't open until 1904). They seem to be working on the main building, but haven't yet started on the glass domes. It is now the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, named after Ms. Whitcomb bequeathed her collection of 600 orchids. Sadly, things DO change.This once lovely park is now in jeopardy, thanks to years of neglect and mismanagement by a crooked mayor (he's now on trial for taking bribes) and incompetent city administration. The State offered to lease the park and fix it up, but the city council voted that down. And a developer wants to BUY the whole island and turn it into a chartered city with expensive homes, shops etc! Oh for a return to the way it was when I was a kid. A poleTowards the center of the photo, there is a 3 meter tall pole, with a dirt area extending from it. Next to that is a plaque. Any ideas what it might be? I assume some sort of game or historical artifact. [Note that there are two such installations, facing one another. Original full size tiff shows no plaque at either. - tterrace] [Note also the two hoops with nets but no backstop. - Dave] Bucking the fashion trendAlmost without exception, you can tell the women by the white tops -- except the one woman just to the left of center. She would stand out in a crowd, if only there were a crowd around her. As I look around the photo again, I see a few more women wearing dark colored tops; but white does seem to be the predominant color for the ladies. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Detroit Photos, DPC, Kids)
Guys and Docks: 1903
Detroit circa 1903. "Swimming pool at Belle Isle Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. ... The bridge in the background is the original iron-and-wood Belle Isle Bridge which burned and was destroyed in 1915, and was replaced by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2017 - 11:49am -

Detroit circa 1903. "Swimming pool at Belle Isle Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. A Bridge Too FarThe bridge in the background is the original iron-and-wood Belle Isle Bridge which burned and was destroyed in 1915, and was replaced by the current bridge in 1923 (originally named the George Washington Bridge, it was renamed the MacArthur Bridge in 1942). Beyond the bridge appears to be the Detroit Boat Club (a rowing club). Their clubhouse, the first concrete building in the United States, was erected in 1902 to replace wooden clubhouses which burned in 1893 and 1901. [The Boat Club is said to be first building in America "constructed entirely out of reinforced concrete." - Dave] TrendsetterI'm telling you guys, Stripes are what's in for 1903, Solids are so 19th century. Eastward HoThis is a picture of the original Belle Isle bath house and beach, which was on the western part of the island, west of the bridge and adjacent to the original ferry landing. In 1909 the beach was moved to the center part of the island, where it would have less exposure to the Detroit River's strong currents. A new bath house (which Shorpy has shown in previously posted photos of Belle Isle) was built well to the east of the Boat Club building shown in the background here. That "new" bath house is now long gone too, but the beach remains, and is still open to the public for swimming during the summer months. HeritageThe "Swimming pool..." refered to is actually the Detroit River, an American Heritage River. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Swimming)
Cold, Cold Art: 1904
... new again They've got a similarly-sized ice fountain on Belle Isle today. I was just there, and there's an "fountain of ice" about the same ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/27/2012 - 4:54pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1904. "Fountain of ice, Washington Boulevard." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. WowMagnificent photo! FamiliarThat could almost be the scene in my front yard in Fairfax VA for the last couple of weeks. Tallest frozen fountainThat I've ever seen. Looks to be about 40 to 45 feet tall, unless the boys are over 5 feet tall at the base of this frozen monument. If they are, this chunk of ice could be 50 feet or more. I have to go now and turn up my thermostat. Are we all so innocent?Looks like it could be an ad for Viagra. The City PlumberMust have cussed up a storm when he was looking for the valve to turn off that fountain. Amazing ! That is an awesome photo! I've never seen anything like it before ! Put on your crampons and grab your ice axeThis looks exactly like ice towers that climbing clubs build today for recreation and competition where a frozen waterfall isn't handy. There are a number of links to pictures at the bottom of the Alaska Alpine Club's website. What/How?How was it made? First thing that came to my mind was a snapped off fire hydrant? but really.. How was it made? Amazing!I am speechless! I have NEVER seen anything like this! It is beautiful and scary at the same time. Oops!I knew that I should have shut that faucet off last night! Leaden skyA pretty goood example of a leaden sky. Holy HannahThat is so cool. No pun intended. Man it looks cold in that neighbourhood. Brrrr. What's old is new againThey've got a similarly-sized ice fountain on Belle Isle today. I was just there, and there's an "fountain of ice" about the same size as this one on the Detroit side of the island by the yacht club. Why can't I free your doubtful mind... and melt your cold cold art? (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Cruising: 1907
Detroit circa 1907. "Band concert on Grand Canal, Belle Isle Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 2:38pm -

Detroit circa 1907. "Band concert on Grand Canal, Belle Isle Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Awesome NeedleworkCheck out the canoe in the lower middle of the picture. The two pillows with the designs on them. I especially like the one with the Indian head on it. CharmingWhy they are called "the good old days." I hope the pavilion has survived. Speaking of checking outThe two young ladies seater lower right are checking out the canoes (or their gentlemen paddlers) quite intently. Now I know what's missing... from canoe rides -- Pillows! Lots of pillows, and even headlights! I see that I have the concept of rustic, quiet canoe rides all wrong. Honey, are you enjoying the concert?ZZZZZZZZZZ I gotta wonderHow many of these damsels "accidentally" took a tumble into the water, only to have half a dozen handsome young men dive in to save her! Carbide LightsSome of the canoes are sporting what appear to be carbide lights. The only way to watch those night time submarine races with your gal. IlluminationI know somebody will explain the large spotlights on some of these canoes! Program NotesAs a musician, I would love to be able to hear what the band is playing. I wish someone would discover that there was a recording made of this band. Canoe RacesFourth canoe on the right headed toward the band pavilion and second canoe from the bottom on the left are all girls. Those guys with the pillows are well prepared for events to come. Solemn bunch Wait! There's a woman smiling, over there on the right. Obviously a troublemaker. re: Program NotesOne way to get an idea of the kind of thing the band was playing is to follow this link to the Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project of the University of California at Santa Barbara. Do a search for year 1907 (or any other +/- about five years) and listen to items listing a band as performer. What entertainment was?Amazing, all these people (of ALL ages) beautifully dressed and seated, watching intently--but what exactly ARE they watching so intently ? (people just canoeing by? I still haven't quite figured out that part) and why are so many of them doing so? (I have teenagers and the very idea of them dressing up to watch something like this would put them in conniptions>>how the world has changed). [As noted in the caption, this is a band concert -- everyone is listening to the orchestra on the bridge. - Dave] Where'd we park the car?Notice the line of cars on the right hand shore. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Detroit Photos, DPC)
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