Future Detroit Mayor denied boarding the Bois Blanc steamers
In the early 1930s, persons of minority race were still falling short in their ultimate goal of equality, but the issue still was not making headlines or gaining importance. This extended to the operations of the Columbia and Ste. Claire steamers servicing Bois Blanc Island. One of the hopefuls on a 1931 run was Coleman A. Young, a member of a Boy Scout troop who would enjoy a day on the island - without him. Young was stopped short of boarding the boat due to his race, and forced to watch his troop sail without him. Although this did not give him the press coverage he would later become notorious for as Detroit's mayor, opinions were quietly circulating about the Detroit, Belle Isle and Windsor Ferry Company's operating procedures. Since Bois Blanc had been a haven for runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad System, the company was seen as hypocritical.
The tipping point long passed: Prohibition doing more harm than good
The Bois Blanc steamer Ste. Claire received perhaps its most direct exposure to the rum-running trade that was quickly going out of control: at one time in 1931 it was caught in a crossfire gun exchange with border patrol agents. An innocent passenger on board Ste. Claire was wounded by this stray gunfire. The ever-increasing incidents such as these helped sway public opinion against Prohibition. The mounting pressures of the Great Depression, meanwhile, were seen as the perfect chance to indulge in a brew or hard liquor, but this was still not possible. And the visual frustrations, forever visible, began manifesting itself more blatantly as time went on.
The ruthlessness in Wyandotte, which had it ranked only behind Hamtramck and Ecorse as far as overall lawlessness, may have gone for much longer if not for the tragedies that would become known as the Rivett-Tear-Pelkey murders in 1931. Joseph Rivett, a well-known Wyandotte merchant who had never operated a liquor business prior to Prohibition, was operating a blind-pig establishment on Oak Street west of Biddle, near the Edinger building, and was considered one of the very few who had not sold out to the criminals. An Italian Syndicate wrecked his saloon when he refused their offer, yet it was rebuilt quickly.
The ruthlessness in Wyandotte, which had it ranked only behind Hamtramck and Ecorse as far as overall lawlessness, may have gone for much longer if not for the tragedies that would become known as the Rivett-Tear-Pelkey murders in 1931. Joseph Rivett, a well-known Wyandotte merchant who had never operated a liquor business prior to Prohibition, was operating a blind-pig establishment on Oak Street west of Biddle, near the Edinger building, and was considered one of the very few who had not sold out to the criminals. An Italian Syndicate wrecked his saloon when he refused their offer, yet it was rebuilt quickly.
Joseph Evola, an accesory to the rival Joe Tocco syndicate (which in turn was part of the Westside Gang), would visit the bar in October, 1931, where he would be shot to death, presumably by Rivett, in answer to money owed Evola. Claiming self-defense, Rivett's murder case was dismissed by the court. Having been cleared, it was Rivett's plan to move to Florida to be closer to his son. He was scheduled to depart on November 7, but decided to visit Tear's Cozy Saloon on Biddle just south of Eureka to say good-bye to his friends.
Without warning, machine-gun shots were heard coming from the bar. Rivett, saloon-keep Charles Tear, and porter John Pelkey were found dead inside. The suspects drove away in a brown sedan. Seven people would end up being questioned, including Tocco himself, but they would be released due to lack of evidence, and the case continues unresolved to this day (although the death of Tocco via shooting - also unresolved - a few years later was seen by some as a symbolic case closure).
As far as the State and County sheriffs were concerned, things had gone on unchecked in Wyandotte too long. A 1923 sting operative that centered on Hamtramck had cleaned all illegal activity from the city in mere months, yet officials in both Ecorse and Wyandotte insisted they could handle the troubles themselves, and did not desire what they termed "interference" on their behalf. Now the Detroit News and Free Press were hammering Wyandotte officials for the condition of their city.
Without warning, machine-gun shots were heard coming from the bar. Rivett, saloon-keep Charles Tear, and porter John Pelkey were found dead inside. The suspects drove away in a brown sedan. Seven people would end up being questioned, including Tocco himself, but they would be released due to lack of evidence, and the case continues unresolved to this day (although the death of Tocco via shooting - also unresolved - a few years later was seen by some as a symbolic case closure).
As far as the State and County sheriffs were concerned, things had gone on unchecked in Wyandotte too long. A 1923 sting operative that centered on Hamtramck had cleaned all illegal activity from the city in mere months, yet officials in both Ecorse and Wyandotte insisted they could handle the troubles themselves, and did not desire what they termed "interference" on their behalf. Now the Detroit News and Free Press were hammering Wyandotte officials for the condition of their city.
The State and County would come in and begin cleaning house, with Wyandotte officials standing on the sidelines. According to recent eyewitness accounts, people seemed to turn against their old ways rather quickly. Stills were being cleaned from homes and destroyed, guns were put away, altered vehicles which held stills at one time were junked in far-away areas to lose the evidence, and churches began to fill again with those formerly sinful people. Hundreds of arrests resulted in jail time for many. Those who got out, yet still needed a "fix," could now go across the Ambassador Bridge or Detroit/Windsor Tunnel to obtain it legally. But this was not put into uniform practice as of yet. The Federal Government would need to intervene - again.
The death of the interurban, and the birth of a new city Downriver
Since the mid-1920s, many independent businesses began to divest themselves from interurban railway holdings. The line's once-enviable safety record was beginning to suffer. While still otherwise efficient, its scope was becoming extremely limited. The age of the automobile was now proven to not be just a passing fad. It also was no longer the wave of the future: it was the wave of the present, and everyone was starting to catch on, not just the privileged few. Despite the numerous sell-offs and mergers among companies, lack of ridership doomed the interurbans for good. Their last day of operation was October 5, 1932 at 1:50 AM.
Melvindale would officially become a city in 1933. It had its earliest organizational roots back in the early 1920s as the village of Oakwood Heights and, as were so many other surrounding Downriver communities, were built to house those pioneering workers at the steel factories on the riverfront, as well as those at the Rouge factory complex. The name Melvindale, which later sprung from this village, was named for early land developer Melvin Wilkinson and was the portion of Oakwood Heights not annexed by the city of Detroit in 1922.
Melvindale would officially become a city in 1933. It had its earliest organizational roots back in the early 1920s as the village of Oakwood Heights and, as were so many other surrounding Downriver communities, were built to house those pioneering workers at the steel factories on the riverfront, as well as those at the Rouge factory complex. The name Melvindale, which later sprung from this village, was named for early land developer Melvin Wilkinson and was the portion of Oakwood Heights not annexed by the city of Detroit in 1922.
As Wyandotte began its recovery, the nation was embroiled in the Great Depression, and Prohibition was simply not working. It was gaining the law-breakers upwards of $250,000,000 per year, with the Federal Government not getting a penny. Meanwhile, Michigan was facing an unprecedented 46% unemployment rate. The only available jobs seemed to go to the gang contacts and groups previously mentioned. People starving for work could not get it, as Prohibition had wiped out many loyal businesses that could have employed those now standing in soup lines.
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With the election of Michigan Governor William Comstock assured by his stance against Prohibition, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt assuming the office of President sharing the same ideals, it would only be a matter of time before a major change would take place.
By February 1933, the Congress put forth a proposed Constitutional Amendment that would repeal an old Amendment for the first time in history. Passed easily, it was forwarded to the States for approval; the same 75% / 36 state majority would be needed to get the 18th Amendment overturned. The final Michigan vote would be 99-1 in favor of repeal. With Utah becoming the 36th state to agree to this on December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment replaced the 18th. And after close to 15 years of sometimes-tragic uncertainties, Wyandotte (and the whole ensuing area) would begin a long path to peaceful recovery.
To the Near North: Union rights become a rallying cry at the Rouge Plant
Meanwhile, the evolving United Auto Workers Union began to make its mark Downriver. Fresh off a successful union battle in Flint the prior year, their notoriety would increase tenfold one day in May, 1937.
Talk about unions were circulating in intensity over the past year at the Ford Rouge facility, as its workers were thinking "unionism, not Fordism." Henry Ford did not desire the union movement. He thought working conditions and pay were satisfactory, believing increased "perks" would result in decreased worker productivity. Ford would end up recruiting Harry Bennett as his point man to confront any pro-union worker or activity and squelch them.
Although Bennett had many henchmen to back up his duties, they did not necessarily count on such a strong response taking form on the pedestrian overpass bridge over Miller Road in what would be termed the "Battle of the Overpass." Union organizer Walter Reuther was beaten and bloodied in the melee, but the union movement gained tremendous traction beyond that episode, setting workers up for the benefits they would enjoy for multiple generations.
Talk about unions were circulating in intensity over the past year at the Ford Rouge facility, as its workers were thinking "unionism, not Fordism." Henry Ford did not desire the union movement. He thought working conditions and pay were satisfactory, believing increased "perks" would result in decreased worker productivity. Ford would end up recruiting Harry Bennett as his point man to confront any pro-union worker or activity and squelch them.
Although Bennett had many henchmen to back up his duties, they did not necessarily count on such a strong response taking form on the pedestrian overpass bridge over Miller Road in what would be termed the "Battle of the Overpass." Union organizer Walter Reuther was beaten and bloodied in the melee, but the union movement gained tremendous traction beyond that episode, setting workers up for the benefits they would enjoy for multiple generations.
Plans were in the works for an island development to surpass Belle Isle
One public improvement project never got off the ground, but it was noted for both its originality as well as its daring. During the spring of 1939, Wayne County was studying a possible plan to create a four-mile Downriver Island Park, billed as two-thirds larger than Belle Isle. This would be accomplished by drying off part of the river bed to join small islands already visible north of Point Hennepin opposite Wyandotte, and gradually filling in with rubbish collection by Downriver and Detroit.
Access would have directly linked the area of Southfield Road & West Jefferson to Grosse Ile ("behind the alkali wasteland") by way of Mud, Grassy and Mamajuda Islands, which were currently in the hands of the Federal Government. A Mr. VanBuskirk stated the entire project could be constructed at surprisingly little cost; stating that only bridges at both ends of the project would be a financial concern. The project had actually been in the planning stages for quite some time, but no word as to a possible vote of the people was given (although Detroit Councilman Henry S. Sweeney said public reaction to this was vitally important).
Access would have directly linked the area of Southfield Road & West Jefferson to Grosse Ile ("behind the alkali wasteland") by way of Mud, Grassy and Mamajuda Islands, which were currently in the hands of the Federal Government. A Mr. VanBuskirk stated the entire project could be constructed at surprisingly little cost; stating that only bridges at both ends of the project would be a financial concern. The project had actually been in the planning stages for quite some time, but no word as to a possible vote of the people was given (although Detroit Councilman Henry S. Sweeney said public reaction to this was vitally important).