My next few blogs will be a posting of several papers
about downriver history from the 1959 Honors English Class of St. Francis High
School. The only one that has a byline is one by Lawrence Meier. If
you recognize any of these papers and especially if you wrote one of them,
please let me know. I am anxious to preserve these and to give credit where
credit is due. I put the first two papers on my Ecorse History blog, because
they were mostly about Ecorse, but they also
mention several other Downriver communities so I am including the link here . I will also include
the link to this posting on the Ecorse blog. Remember these were written in 1959. It's fascinating to read them from a 2013 perspective.
As one of the students suggests, these papers are just a stepping stone
for more research into Downriver
history. Kathy Warnes)
Here is the link for part I of the blog.
Division of the Downriver Communities- Part II
Lincoln
Park
Forty
years ago, the area which is now Lincoln Park was known as Quandt’s Corners. It
was called this, because the Quandts owned most of the business places on the
main corner of the district. Ambitious job seekers rushed here when Henry Ford
offered his “Five Dollar Day.”
The
Lincoln Park Improvement Association, noticing the increasing population, made
plans for the incorporation of Lincoln Park as a village and called together a
group of settlers who met in the Strowig School and approved these plans.
Therefore,
in 1921, Lincoln Park formally became known as a village. Before the election
of officials, eighty residents signed a petition asking that Otto Schonscheck
be appointed police chief but he was not elected. The first governing body
consisted of President Mark A. Goodell, Clerk Floyd W. Harrison, Treasurer
Louis J. Keppen, Commissioners Joseph Green, George Shanley, Harry H. Sharpe,
Fred J. White, Delbert Wilber, and Harry J. Timm. S.A. Monroe became Chief of Police. In this
election the women had one of their first opportunities to use their recently
given right to vote.
When
Lincoln Park first became a village, there were only a few stores in town: a saloon, a barber shop, a grocery store, and
a pool hall. Also, there were two schools, the Strowig School and the Goodell
School. One paved road which was Fort Street, ran through the village. For the
most part, the others were narrow mud trails.
During
1923 and 1924, the Ku Klux Klan was very active in Lincoln Park. Determined to
keep out hated Catholics, Jews, and Negroes, members burned a cross in front of
their homes or places of business. Faced with this difficulty, St. Henry’s had
a hard time getting started. Securing no protection from the city, Father
O’Toole of St. Henry’s took matters in his own hands and guarded his church
with a gun.
On
January 13, 1925, Lincoln Park advanced again, in adding several square miles,
and voting to become a city. Eight hundred and seventy four people voted, four
hundred and sixty seven were for the proposal and three hundred and eighty
voted against it. The residents of the new city chose William Raupp as their
first Mayor, Floyd W. Harrison, Clerk, Arthur C. Hieman, Treasurer, Floyd S.
Flynn, Judge, and Anton Eisner, Constable.
The
original city charter was written by Albert Babbitt, John Down, Frank Grace,
Samuel McMillan, Justin Morrison, Reinhold Nass, Jacob Poppen, George Shanley,
and William Thompson. Lincoln Park had one bank called the Lincoln Park Bank.
Dr. Bennett and Dr. Poppen were among the first practicing physicians there.
In
1928, St. Henry’s opened their school, with the Sisters of St. Joseph of
Nazareth in charge. At the same time Lincoln Park showed a need for a
superintendent of schools and Leo Huff was given the position. Also in 1928,
Fort Street was widened and it later became a super highway.
The
1930 census listed Lincoln Park as the thirty-fourth city in Michigan with a
population of 12,336. During this year, the Catholic population grew so much
that it became necessary for St. Henry Parish to obtain an assistant priest.
The first funeral home of its kind in the area, Okeley’s, opened in the 1930s. In
1933, the Mellus newspaper came out with the first edition.
At
this time, Lincoln Park had a public park, twelve churches, six public schools
and two parochial schools. In 1936, the
city proudly dedicated a new city hall, and in 1939 an imposing post office
building.
By
1940, the census showed the population to be 15,236, boosting Lincoln Park to
the twenty-sixth city in Michigan. Also during this year a group of young men
felt there should be an organization for the purpose of studying issues and
arousing public opinion on community needs and civic problems. They therefore
organized themselves into a Lincoln Park Junior Chamber of commerce. In 1944,
Lincoln Park Bank sold to the Ecorse
Bank, which later became known as Security Bank. In 1946, the JayCee’s sponsored the
celebration of Silver Anniversary of Lincoln Park’s becoming a village. They
celebrated with a Jubilee Queen, an Old Timers’ Dinner, a street parade,
sidewalk festivities, and an all day picnic.
With
the increasing need for homes for the growing population, Lincoln Park was
caught in the whirlwind of a gigantic real estate boom. To satisfy hungry
promoters, sidewalks were laid in outlandish subdivisions, sewers were provided
where they were absolutely un-needed, a school was built far removed from the
population, and many streets were paved. Finding themselves in great debt, the
citizens finally realize their mistake. Although the debt they were faced with
seemed insurmountable, they decided to try to pay it themselves.
From
1946 to 1955, a total of 7,963 permits for new homes were issued by the
building department. This construction was estimated at more than $90,000,000.
Home building reached its peak in 1949 when 2,011 permits were recorded; by
1956, the total had dropped to 200, showing a rapid decline.
After
many years of building, Lincoln Park suddenly had begun to fall, in part, for
in the summer of 1956, the city was hit by a tornado. A church and several
houses were blown down in the vicinity of Dix and Southfield. However, everyone
cooperated, and in a short time all was back to normal.
To
serve the growing population, Lincoln Park sold the corner of Dix and
Southfield for $450,000 in 1954, to Sears, Roebuck, and Company. This store, in
addition to the Lincoln Park Plaza, created more shopping facilities for the
area.
Two
hospitals serve Lincoln Park, the Lynn Hospital opened in 1955, and Peoples’
Community Hospital, better known as Outer Drive Hospital, opened in December of
1957, as an emergency hospital for Down River. The working people of the area
have access to Ford’s and to Great Lakes Steel, without the smoke and soot of
living in an industrial area. Nineteen schools educate the young of Lincoln
Park, including one high school and three parochial schools.
Twenty-four
churches take care of the souls of the Lincoln Parkers. Fifty-five policemen and
twenty-eight firemen are here to protect us. There are 604 commercial buildings
and 13,150 homes in this city. To entertain our citizens, Lincoln Park has a
theatre, a roller-rink and many organizations. All this goes into making the
estimated 48,750 people in this community today happy and prosperous.
Industry
and Government in Wyandotte
The
story of the change of a swampy empty tract of land into a thriving community
is a very interesting one. This story began quite a distance from this tract of
land—in northern Michigan to be exact.
Mr. Philip Thurber, an insurance agent
from Detroit, decided to spend his vacation near Marquette. During his journey
he became interested in iron ore and when he found out its superior quality,
had it tested and smelted. He then returned to Detroit and interested his
friends, E.B. Ward, S.M. Holmes, R.N. Rice, Tracy Howe, J. Hossna, and others
in a business proposition, which resulted in the organization of the Eureka
Iron Company.
At
first they planned to build on the site of the deposit, but later they decided
it would be better to build closer to a more accessible source of fuel. As a
result they purchased the Major John Biddle estate of 2,200 acres with two
miles of water frontage along the Detroit River, and erected a blast furnace.
Eber Ward headed the group while negotiate the acquisition of the property and
the starting of the foundation for the village of Wyandotte.
The abstracts of
the Wyandotte property files, in part, state that (1) the land was bought to
furnish the Eureka Iron Company with a place for blast furnaces and smelting
and all other refining connected with ore, and to furnish the wood for charcoal
and other fuel for their works and for the laborers to build their homes; (2)
to furnish agricultural lands for raising produce for the laborers and
employees of the company; (3) to furnish building lots for the offices of
laborers and employees of the company on such terms as the director of the
company shall direct and (4) to furnish sites and conveniences for individuals
or companies for manufacturing purposes in iron or other metals in whole or in
part or which may be for the convenience of the stockholders of the company. So
was born the village of Wyandotte.
The
streets of Wyandotte were named according to the pattern set by William Penn
and the Quaker City of Pennsylvania. He took one boundary street and named it
Front Street or the beginning point. Street running parallel to Front Street
were named by the numbers—first, second, third, etc. The streets running
horizontally were named for trees and shrubs
In
Wyandotte, the focal point became the river and the first streets parallel to
it became Front Street. Front Street followed the immediate water line and ran
from Mulberry to Elm, which in the beginning was the east line of what is now
Van Alstyne Boulevard. The Bishop Park Land developed later from the slag of
the Iron works. At Superior, a fine beach began and extended to Poplar.
After
the close down of the Eureka Iron Works, john Van Alstyne and some men plotted
the property into building lots. This land covered an area from Eureka to Elm
and what had been Front Street became Von Alstyne Boulevard. The rest of the
street remained Front until March 4, 1921, when it was changed to conform by
city ordinance.
As
we saw above, the streets from Northline or the north boundary were named for
trees—Spruce, Cedar, Mulberry, etc. The name Superior Boulevard was assigned
because it was the only street besides Biddle that was made 120 feet wide by
the Iron Company in Wyandotte. The names off the streets from Northline to
Emmons Boulevard were plotted by pioneers of a territory designated as “Ford
City.” After the annexation of this territory the names were changed to conform
to those of Wyandotte proper.
After
the Iron Works had filed its claim and had the property deeds settled, it
turned its attention toward the building of a factory. Since the factory ha to
be built, little time was left for building homes. Therefore in 1856, there
were three available places of lodging—the Eureka Hotel, the Biddle House on
the corner of Vinewood and Biddle, and of the Wyandotte no location and be
definitely given. After the factory was completed, homes were built by the
laborers and the employees.
Between
the dates 1856 and April 8, 1867, there is much that could be said, but it can
all be summed up in one paragraph. Boarding houses had been built to
accommodate the surplus factory workers; gradually these were dismantled and
all but one replaced by beautiful mansions. A school house was built on Chestnut
Street. The first drug store in 1863, the first butcher shop, and the first
bakery were all opened. In 1865, documents are agreed on this one point
unanimously, the first funeral home was organized with H.F. Thon as funeral
director. But even before his time, as early as 1857, J.F.W. Thon, a carpenter,
took care of the dead by making coffins similar to the Egyptian mummy cases.
There
are just a few of the firsts in Wyandotte. But April 8, 1867, marked the most
important first of all…for on April 8, 1867, a new city held its first Common
Council meeting. This date constituted a break away from the government of
Ecorse. The government of Wyandotte consisted of a mayor and six councilmen. Since
1854, the people of Wyandotte had awaited the day when they would become a
city.
On March 5, 1867, this dream was finally realized. The first elections
were held and the result was as follows:
Mayor John S. Van Alstyne; Recorder, Peter Lacy; Marshal, Thomas Jewell;
Justices of the peace, L. Ferguson, F.V. Briggs, Alex Stewart; Director of the
Poor, .E. Krieger, Franklin Nelson; School Inspectors, C. Schmidt, S. Pray;
Alderman 1st. Ward, R. C Conwell, E.P. Christian; 2n Ward, D.
Sullivan, R.W. Leighton, 3rd Ward, H. Ocbock, Fred Kreiger and
Constables C. Thon, R. Mahar, R. Donaldson. There is some disagreement about
the first treasurer—the two names usually given are Frank Brohl and J.F.W.
Thon.
Although
the Eureka Iron Works was the first and most important industry in Wyandotte,
there were quite a few more over the course of the years. One of the most
important of these was the Michigan Alkali Company and J.B. Ford Division. This
new chemical industry was the successor to the great iron works. Although the
Iron Works had been forced to give way to its successor, it was still
considered to be the life-line of the city. “Proudly We Record,” the history of
Wyandotte, gives us this information.
The
two furnaces and rolling mill consumed 6,000 bushels of charcoal per day, over
two million bushels a year, or about 50,000 cords of wood. The crashing of
mighty oaks and hickories was continually resounding in the air, clearing the
in west Wyandotte of all trees, yet it was a good sound to hear, for it meant
the mill was running, and at the same time the land was cleared for homes and
farms.
For
thirty years the industry boomed. In 1870, the city ranked eighth in steel
output in the United States. In 1876, the Wyandotte Mill produced the largest
piece of boiler plate up to that time. It was sent to the Centennial Exposition
in Philadelphia where it was regarded with awe by thousand who perhaps thought
of Wyandotte as a rough and uncouth western town, largely inhabited by Indians!
Still,
there was a new adventure ahead of Wyandotte, one that was to revolutionize the
steel industry, in Michigan and elsewhere. William Kelly had originated the
Bessemer process of producing steel in the East, but had been unable to
convince any manufacturers there to gamble on its success. Coming to Detroit,
he convinced Eber Ward that it was worth a try, and Wyandotte ran the process
for the first time in 1854. After a series of mishaps, however, the Eureka Iron
Works closed its doors for the last time.
In
searching for a new source of fuel, salt had been discovered blow the surface
of the Downriver communities. Thus it was that the Michigan Alkali Company was
formed and took over the Eureka plant, or what was left of it.
Eber
Ward had another interest, ship building. With the Kirby brothers, he was
responsible for the building of over 200 vessels. This industry came to an end
in 1920. Another of his pet projects, silver smelting, flourished for a time,
to end in later years, largely due to difficulties in securing raw materials in
a place so far removed from sources.
Wyandotte’s
municipal government has kept pace with its industrial growth, as might be
expected. In 1925, a new charter was written, and the Mayor-Council type
government was inaugurated. Wyandotte has provide itself worthy of the trust
put into it by the early and later industrialists, who hoped to find in this
Downriver community a favorable economic climate for the development of
successful manufacturing plants.
Melvindale
During
the early years of Melvindale, conveniences were unknown. Citizens who wanted
water would have to go down to the corner of Hanna and Oakwood to get their
weekly supply.
One
of the earliest establishments was the Pepper Road Fuel and Supply Company,
owned and operated by J.A. Sullivan. Mike Sczmar owned and operated a gas
station, the first in Melvindale. The station was located where a viaduct
carries a railroad track over a busy street. Melvindale had one bank located in
the heart of town, on the corner of Oakwood and Allen Road. Later it was moved
beside the Mel Theater, and just recently was transferred to its present site
in Allen Park.
One
of the earliest pioneer families were the Dashers, who contributed much to the
success of the community. Other prominent families were the McKittricks,
Dubbies, Longs, Filharus, and the Bert and John Sullivans. These families still
cherish early memories of this historical area.
On
February 6, 1933, Melvindale voters approved a city charter to end the
communities’ six-year status as a village. At that time there was no mayor,
instead a president governed the village. Frank Fennelson first held this
office. Other officials at that time were Clerk, Sylvester Mable; Chief of
Police and Chief of Fire Department Mr. Meisner.
The
first twenty-five years have been the hardest for Melvindale which accumulated
a municipal debt of more than two-million dollars during the depression years.
This indebtedness was for street paving, sidewalks, lighting and sewers.
To
retire this staggering debt, Melvindale property owners have been paying an
extra ten dollars per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation in special
taxes since 1936. The debt is scheduled to be paid off in 1959, and the city
can look forward to a substantial tax cut at this time.
The
1950 census gave nine thousand, four hundred eight-three, as the population
figure for Melvindale. By May 1, 1957, it was estimated to have sixteen thousand.
The total number of streets is forty; thirty two of them are paved.
Melvindale
has six public parks, of which Coogan Park is one of the oldest.
Each
Thursday Melvindale newsboys distribute a paper called “The Melvindale Messenger”
put out by the Mellus newspapers.
The
first library was located on Oakwood Boulevard. In later years a new one was
built on the corner of Allen Road and Gough. The new library has ten thousand,
seven hundred and twenty-two volumes, plus new books coming in regularly.
Melvindale
still has much to be desired as far as organized recreation is concerned.
However, since it is a comparatively new city, it is to be expected that
cultural and recreational developments will come with time. Meanwhile,
the citizens of Melvindale can be proud of their progress thus far.
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