Was actress Lucille Ball born or raised in Wyandotte?
This is most likely our most-asked question. Miss Ball was not born in Wyandotte, although she spent some time here briefly when she was four years old.
Lucille was born in Jamestown, New York, on August 6, 1911. The family moved several times in Ball's initial years, from jamestown to Anaconda, Montana, and then to Trenton, New Jersey. Her father, Henry Durrell Ball, contracted Typhoid Fever in 1915 and did pass away on February 28, 1915, in Wyandotte. Very little is known as to how long the Ball family lived in Wyandotte; when they moved there (assumingly from Trenton) or when they would move next, although their next residence was listed as back in New York State. Lucille Ball did make a few visits back to her Wyandotte abode shortly before skyrocketing to stardom as Lucy Ricardo in "I Love Lucy." If you look closely in her bedroom set on the show, one of the pictures on her dresser shows none other than Major John Biddle of Wyandotte fame. Miss Ball's Wyandotte house (of which we are trying to pinpoint the exact address) was demolished, likely by the late 1950s, as part of the city's earliest attempts at urban renewal, which focused on the south side early on. |
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Was Downriver ever mentioned in popular songs?
1. In regards to Michigan-bred Bob Seger, the answer is YES. In his song "Back in '72", Lincoln Park was indeed mentioned in Stanza #2, shown below:
Somehow we made it to baton rouge We stayed inside for a week We weren't in town for no mardi gras So we decided to sleep Houston, yes, was a good old guest Tho knows how bad we wanted to play But we got homesick for lincoln park (imagine that) and then we just couldn't stay Tricky dick, he played it slick Something I was afraid he'd do Back in '72 , oh, '72... |
2. In regards to Journey, the answer may be NO.
Their arena-rock song "Don't Stop Believin'" includes a lyric, "South Detroit." For many years, people have believed South Detroit was actually referring to Downriver. But their lead singer, Steve Perry, said that was not the intent when the lyrics for the song were written. According to an article with New York Magazine (2012), he chose the area in general because it sounded best in the song, and was not meant to refer to any particular city or location, including Downriver. The talk, most likely, will continue in the years ahead. |
Were rumors true that all the Federal Department Stores were burned when closed?
According to the source himself, the answer is no; the burnings were coincidental.
On October 31, 1977 Steven West, just three days after a story was published about him buying out inventory from the closing Robert Hall chain, purchased 25% of Federal's common stock, thereby becoming the chief official of the company. The acquisition was a hostile takeover, pushing the Board of Directors to try ousting West from the position. Upon being sued, West reportedly locked himself at his Federal's office for four hours. |
The resulting court trial would clear West of any wrongdoing in March, 1978. Later that year, however, several Federal stores burned. West denied involvement and suggested that he take a lie-detector test to show that neither he nor company officers were involved. No evidence exists on whether the test was taken, but West would not be charged in those circumstances.
The two Federal stores Downriver (and one in East Dearborn) were not victimized: the Wyandotte location became City Hall for the next 40-plus years, while the Southgate store became Service Merchandise by 1978, lasting for the next 25-plus years. Incidentally, the last remaining stores in the Detroit area would be renamed "Derals" (knocking off the "F" and "E").
The two Federal stores Downriver (and one in East Dearborn) were not victimized: the Wyandotte location became City Hall for the next 40-plus years, while the Southgate store became Service Merchandise by 1978, lasting for the next 25-plus years. Incidentally, the last remaining stores in the Detroit area would be renamed "Derals" (knocking off the "F" and "E").
Was Southgate McDonald's (Eureka) a state first?
No, the first McDonald's in Michigan was located on Larch Avenue in Lansing.
The McDonald's at Eureka and Richmond was #2 in the state when built in the early 1960s.
It is not known whether the Larch Avenue location is still in business. Southgate's could be Michigan's longest-running McDonalds.
The McDonald's at Eureka and Richmond was #2 in the state when built in the early 1960s.
It is not known whether the Larch Avenue location is still in business. Southgate's could be Michigan's longest-running McDonalds.
Has Downriver been a birthplace for national chains?
Downriver does lay claim to one: the first Hungry Howie's pizzeria location, which was on Telegraph Road south of Ecorse in Taylor. It replaced Tic-Toc Hamburgers, a small diner in the location.
Downriver's old Wyandotte Theater is also billed as the first multiple-screen theater in the country, although the actual claim is unclear.
Downriver's old Wyandotte Theater is also billed as the first multiple-screen theater in the country, although the actual claim is unclear.
Elizabeth Park: Is it Wayne County's oldest park?
Yes, it is. The park, which occupies 162 acres and was formerly known as Slocum's Island, was originally owned by area settler Giles Bryan Slocum (1808-1884).
Originally it was offered to the village of Trenton in 1918; however, when village officials realized they could not financially maintain the property, they deeded it to Wayne County by October, 1919. |
Did Fretter really give away 5 free pounds of coffee?
This was one of Fretter Appliance's earliest marketing strategies, awarding this to any customer who had a better deal than Fretter. But was it really five pounds in each can?
It has been assumed up to now the answer would be yes, though some people are actually saying the coffee amount was substantially less than five pounds, and the weight of the actual coffee can made up the difference... in an effort to simply draw attention from the customer.
The general consensus, however, seems to be that recepients didn't seem to mind the pound shortage if there was one, and the customers actually enjoyed the attention, as long as the coffee was a freebie.
It has been assumed up to now the answer would be yes, though some people are actually saying the coffee amount was substantially less than five pounds, and the weight of the actual coffee can made up the difference... in an effort to simply draw attention from the customer.
The general consensus, however, seems to be that recepients didn't seem to mind the pound shortage if there was one, and the customers actually enjoyed the attention, as long as the coffee was a freebie.
Did Downriver contribute inventors or patents?
Yes. Perhaps the best known of the many inventions concocted here is the Fire Escape, invented by W.S. Coon, a former clothing merchant in Wyandotte.
Other inventors and their inventions include:
* Benjamin F. Yack (for which the Wyandotte areana is named) invented a "battling tee" for Little League ballplayers ("battling" is probably not a mis-spell) which, according to the Wyandotte Tribune of October 16, 1954, "won national acclaim."
* George Clark invented the metallic life raft, which was later used on Great Lakes Steamers in the latter half of the 19th Century.
* William Powers invented the car coupler. According to an article from the Wyandotte Herald, dated October 28, 1881, shown exactly as written:
Other inventors and their inventions include:
* Benjamin F. Yack (for which the Wyandotte areana is named) invented a "battling tee" for Little League ballplayers ("battling" is probably not a mis-spell) which, according to the Wyandotte Tribune of October 16, 1954, "won national acclaim."
* George Clark invented the metallic life raft, which was later used on Great Lakes Steamers in the latter half of the 19th Century.
* William Powers invented the car coupler. According to an article from the Wyandotte Herald, dated October 28, 1881, shown exactly as written:
"William Powers, Stonecutter of Wyandotte, has invented a car coupler which has come nearer meeting the idea railroad men say is desired in such a thing than the most of inventions of that kind."
* Israel Maloch invented an electric alarm for jail doors and windows, to prevent inmate escape.
* Lewis Scofield would invent the iron cross tie. The first cross tie ever made in the United States rolled off the lines at Eureka Iron Works (date unknown). Mr. Scofield was the Supervisor at the mill and is given credit for the mill's construction.
* Lewis Scofield would invent the iron cross tie. The first cross tie ever made in the United States rolled off the lines at Eureka Iron Works (date unknown). Mr. Scofield was the Supervisor at the mill and is given credit for the mill's construction.
Who lays claim for coining the Southgate name: the shopping center, or city itself?
This has been an on-again, off-again debate since the early 1960s, but it's likely we have the answer at last: The Southgate city name was first.
According to Thomas Anderson, former Ecorse Township Supervisor and first mayor of Southgate, the name was put into use as early as 1953 due to a necessity requiring "legal community identity," although the name of Ecorse Township would continue to be used for general identification. (For mailing purposes, the township was still using Wyandotte's post office information.)
The name represented its geographical location as the southern entrance to the metro Detroit area, judged by the Ecorse Township border on the south. An initial voter referendum held in 1956 would ultimately fail to pass a proposed city charter on the first attempt, and it was about that time initial plans were being drawn up for Southgate Shopping Center, which began construction in 1957. The shopping center was therefore named for the unincorporated village, not vice-versa.
According to Thomas Anderson, former Ecorse Township Supervisor and first mayor of Southgate, the name was put into use as early as 1953 due to a necessity requiring "legal community identity," although the name of Ecorse Township would continue to be used for general identification. (For mailing purposes, the township was still using Wyandotte's post office information.)
The name represented its geographical location as the southern entrance to the metro Detroit area, judged by the Ecorse Township border on the south. An initial voter referendum held in 1956 would ultimately fail to pass a proposed city charter on the first attempt, and it was about that time initial plans were being drawn up for Southgate Shopping Center, which began construction in 1957. The shopping center was therefore named for the unincorporated village, not vice-versa.