March 25, 2010
The Captain
This blog’s grandfather is Captain Frederick Pabst.
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March 23, 2010
City of Destiny
The story of Detroit historian George W. Stark, and the Detroit history book he wrote during World War II.
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March 18, 2010
Detroit History Tour: Woodlawn Cemetery
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March 17, 2010
Accordions! In Detroit!
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March 15, 2010
The chronicles of crows: A Tale of the Springtime (1848)
I have always been drawn to crows, not in any dark teenage-poet way, but because they are big, handsome, super-clever, and remind me of the chilly Michigan spring.
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March 10, 2010
Thomas W. Palmer, and his Park
A rustic log cabin, a massive Italianate marble fountain and an 18th-century bell from Spain at Senator Thomas W. Palmer’s park.
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March 5, 2010
The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory: Belle Isle, Detroit
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March 1, 2010
It’s Pulaski Day
We’re taking a brief leave of absence, but not before paying brief tribute to a Polish-American hero.
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February 23, 2010
Nancy Brown’s “Experience”
In the fall I wrote about the Peace Carillon on Belle Isle, an 85-foot limestone tower dedicated to Detroit News advice columnist Nancy Brown. It’s gorgeous, even though it’s starting to fall apart a little.
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February 21, 2010
More pictures from Maybury State Park
It was warmer and sunnier at last week’s end, so we went back to Maybury for another shot at finding the History Trail (and better photographic opportunities).
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February 18, 2010
Fridays with General Friend Palmer: For cash or peltry
“Interesting facts gleaned from the columns of the Detroit Gazette of 1820-1822”
The old Detroit Gazette was an insignificant sheet both in size and appearance. The Democratic Free Press that followed it was a trifle larger, and a decided improvement, as regards typography, paper and contents.
… [The gazette] was fairly patronized by the merchants and others with advertisements.
I have a file of the paper from July 21, 1820 to June 28, 1822, from which I make some extracts … They will serve to show the difference in many things between then and now.
Their issue July 21, 1820, has this notice:
Quills, etc: – Just received at this office. Also Flutes, Fifes, Flute Preceptors, Fife do, Blank Music Books, Record Books, etc.
Paul Clapp has on hand, and will constantly keep for sale, at wholesale and retail, a large assortment of Hats. Beaver, Castor, Roram, Napt and Felt. Also – Ladies elegant Beaver Hats, with trimmings complete.
The whole will be sold very cheaf for CASH or PELTRY.
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February 17, 2010
Brain vacation to Okauchee Lake, Wisconsin
Charming summer postcards from a lake retreat.
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February 16, 2010
Maybury State Park/Sanitorium
We got off M-14 at Beck Road on our way home from a lunch date in Ann Arbor. My mom wanted me to pick up some cookies. I obliged.
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February 12, 2010
Valentine’s Day
I tried to think about some of my favorite historical couples, but I ended up dwelling on love affairs closer to home.
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February 11, 2010
Oliver Hazard Perry/Oliver Perry Hazard
A few months ago I was intrigued to find a headstone in Farmington’s Quaker Cemetery for Oliver Perry Hazard, March 17, 1836 — September 16, 1923.
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February 9, 2010
One golden eagle, one skull of a male raccoon, skin of one whooping crane
Despite a tremendous weekend that included Lightning Love and The Daredevil Christopher Wright in Ypsilanti, the Hounds Below at the Lager House, a live conjunto band and dancing at the Blue Diamond, a lot of Blatz, Modelo and PBR and a lot of reading, all of which should have been plenty of fodder, I’ve been coming down with a little sniffle of writer’s block this week, professionally, bloggingly, and otherwise.
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