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The S.S. Columbia, aka. “Floating Time Machine” & Boblo:
Evoking Memories and Sharing Memorabilia of golden summers past
The S.S. Columbia Project will host their third festive fundraising cruise on the
Detroit River aboard the MV Friendship. The Cruise will also serve as an official reunion event for former Boblo Crew members and employees.
On this festive cruise down the Detroit River, guests are invited to bring memorabilia, share their fond memories and reminisce about America’s oldest
surviving passenger steamer as they view the beloved
Bob-Lo boats, Columbia and Ste. Claire.
During the cruise, guests will feast on complimentary pizza delivered by the
J.W. Westcott II mailboat while toasting the slow steady progress in restoring
the Columbia to its former glory.
The Friendship will depart from the dock behind the Portofino Restaurant at
3455 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte. Boarding begins at 1:30 pm.
Suggested donation is $40 per person.
Additional information about the cruise and the S.S. Columbia can be found at www.sscolumbia.org or by calling (212) 228-3182.
Contact Lori Feret, 248-546-9712 or by email: lighthouselori49@gmail.com
The nonprofit, S.S. Columbia Project, is committed to restoring and operating the National Historic Landmark Vessel, S.S. Columbia, to educate, enrich and revitalize our culture and communities. This event was made possible by the enormous generosity of the Detroit community.
Join department store historian Bruce Allen Kopytek in this return to the elegance of Jacobson's, a beloved Michigan institution for well over one hundred years. Reenter the marvelous stores and meet the personalities who transformed Jacobson's from its humble Reed City origins to a staple of sophistication throughout the region and in Florida. The brainchild of a retail genius, this deluxe specialty store gave customers a peerless social, shopping and dining destination. Experience anew the refined beauty of its Williamsburg-style Grosse Pointe store, the chic designer world of its Birmingham ensemble or the charm and allure of its original Florida branch in Sarasota revealing along the way, secrets that made Jake's the dazzling store it was and why it remains so profoundly missed by anyone who entered through its solid wooden doors.
Esther held a number of positions in her brother's legendary company, including director of Motown's Artists Personal Management Division, where she helped guide the careers of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells.
Esther, on the steps of the Motown Museum with Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder
NICK ASHFORD
Legendary Motown Singer-Songwriter
May 4, 1941-August 22, 2011
Nick Ashford passed away Monday after battling throat cancer.
He was 70. He and his wife Valerie Simpson wrote some of the most memorable R&B hits from the 1960's, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing."
The remains of the World's Largest Stove, a magnificent 15-ton oak oddity standing on the Michigan State Fairgrounds that was apparently destroyed by a lighting strike that caused a fire. The 25-foot-tall replicated Garland model kitchen range was built in 1893 by the Michigan Stove Co. for the World's Fair in Chicago.
This from www.Freep.com:
Detroit’s iconic giant stove, on the old Michigan State Fairgrounds, was destroyed by fire during Saturday’s thunderstorms.
“It’s one of the major icons, I think, kind of like the big tire out on I-94,” said Michigan photographer and historical photo collector Jan Kaulins, who has studied the background of the metal-and-wood stove. “Just a bit of our history, something that’ll never be replaced. No one’s going to build another 'World’s Biggest Stove.' ”
Detroit firefighters said they had seen a lot of lightning strikes in the vicinity of the giant stove at the old Michigan State Fairgrounds at 8 Mile and Woodward just before the fire was called in at 9:05 p.m. Saturday, Acting Captain Pat McNulty said.
When crews arrived, the stove was fully engulfed in flames, he said.
The stove was destroyed.
The stove, a 25-foot-tall replica of a Garland model built by the Michigan Stove Co., was created for the 1893 Exposition in Chicago, according to Kaulins.
Around that time, Detroit was known as the center of the stove-building industry. After the expo, the stove was moved to the entrance of Belle Isle, then to the fairgrounds in 1965, Kaulins said.
Andrea Bates-Baier, Jerry Gruska, Bob Schmitz and Elaine Tokarski organized a reunion on Saturday July 23, 2011 for the former members of the U of D Chorus from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and the singers from Make Way For Youth.
Participants came from as far away as Florida, Montreal, Arizona and Maryland, as well as closer to home. The reunion began on the UDM campus in the Student Union building then to the C&F building. Making ourselves at home in the Chapel, we enjoyed singing "our" songs for two hours. It was wonderful! One of our former student-directors was in the hospital in another state, so, we telephoned him on a cell phone, sang "You'll Never Walk Alone." It touched his heart.
We then drove to the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy for a delicious banquet. After our meal, Jerry Gruska spoke of his project of compiling past photos of the UD Chorus and Make Way For Youth members, song sheets arranged by Don Large, and other memorabilia to be put on the UDM Library archive website for all to access. Andrea Bates-Baier informed everyone of our desire of placing a plaque in the ballroom to honor director Don Large.
The informational meeting was followed by two more hours of singing and memories. Our reunion made a very special impression on our hearts and vocal chords.
If you were a UD Chorus or Make Way For Youth member, and would like to participate in future reunions, please contact Bob Schmitz at sekndbass@aol.com.
Submitted by
Elaine Tokarski
Dusting off the depot:
Moroun making good on cleanup
Tom Greenwood | The Detroit News
One staggering step at a time, the Michigan Central Station is showing signs of life.
Fueled by funds from Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun, workers toiling since early spring have removed tons of debris, broken glass, caulking and asbestos from the derelict building.
I lived in the city from 1958-1980. My blog, The Department Store Museum, has entries on Hudson's, Crowley's, Jacobson's, and I have just written a history of Jacobson's for The History Press which will be available in September of 2011.
Jacobson's had a fascinating history as a part of our communities, and its owner was one of the most avid supporters of the downtowns of many of Michigan's cities. Now that he's gone . . . we don't have that kind of advocacy.
The book is chock-full of pictures and interesting stories about Jacobson's. It is entitled "Jacobson's: I miss it so!"
