The Grosse Pointe Historical Society was organized in 1945 to promote the preservation of our local heritage and to share that knowledge with the community. The Society's logo represents the 18th century French windmill which stood on Windmill Pointe.
The Society works to make the history of our exceptional community vital, relevant, and accessible. Through our programs, facilities, and events, we bring history to life and protect historic artifacts so that we all can experience the past first hand.
I lived in G.P. from 1962 until I was thrown out in 1968. This place was from another planet. As a 12 year old I was amazed at what was supposed to be normal. Grosse Pointe was a freak show of how America was supposed to be and I sucked all of it in to be like my contemporaries, GPHS class of 68. At the 50th reunion , nobody knew who I was because I was invisible back in the day. What a life!
Well I MADE A MISTAKE! So... I came back to beg YOUR pardon, and correct it. 2 days ago I made the brash -blatent exclamation that "The SURNAME "GROSSE " is definitely British". Well it's NOT... It's "GERMAN"! Sure surprised me. I made the presumption that "Maurice Grosse"- a renouned (paranormal investigator... (now deceased) And, a very prim and proper (British acting gentleman) lead me to make an unresearched, cavalier statement that the name "GROSSE" was "BRITISH". Oops... I stand corrected. I hope you'll forgive me. Jeff 17:47
I live a long -long way from Grosse Pointe today, but the memories of the early 1960's you have awakened in me are wonderful. And you had me absolutely absorbed or "ENGROSSED" in all the NEW historical facts I've learned. (Excuse my pun... I couldn't resist). NEW Facts like "Michael Cadieux" of 1830. No doubt why there is a street of the same name that runs across "Mack" Ave. And right past the Michigan Bell Telephone Company (Central -Office) that I knew so well that generates the prefixes: 881, 882, 884, 885, and a few others that I don't specifically remember now. My beautiful Aunt Nita's was 884. (I just KNOW everybody wanted to know that). HA! Excuse me again... I couldn't resist. AND... Oh yes... Some of the earliest Grosse Pointe residents were "The Trombleys" Who lived 2 doors down from us in 1974. I didn't know they were celebrities. Also, The "Renault's"... Well, we all know who THEY ARE! But the one thing I really didn't get, was... The name"GROSSE POINTE " derived it's name from some horrible massacre in 1712... "The FOX INDIAN MASSACRE" was it? Having it out with another tribe called "MASS-A-KINS" (did you say)? Well, WHY isn't it called "FOX POINTE"?? The (SIR NAME) "GROSSE" is definitely British! For as many times as the Britts were over here trying to grab on to Detroit, I thought there has to be a connecting story there. But I guess not! Well, it's been very interesting. I'd give you an equally interesting story about the Hell -Place I live in, but I wouldn't want your hair to drop -out for the language I'd have to use. Love you all... My long lost Michigan family, (I wish I'd never left). Jeff 17:51
Very interesting!!! My Grandfather had a tool/die business in Highland Park, Michigan from the 1920's on, making parts for Ford--- My G mother sold it in the 70's, but the business is still operating there----
DENNIS,you made me feel like im back in time.I can hardly beleive that you are still here telling the story of the EDMUND FITZGERALD,The song gets me with meaning
My GG Uncle, Joseph Parley Main, fom Allegan, was in the Michigan 1st Engineers and Mechanics. I believe in Co D. He was involved in Sherman's March. J.P Main returned home at the end of the war and lived the remainder of his life in Allegan and is buried there in Oakwood Cemetery. I appreciate this discussion as it helped me to understand JP Main's work in the war.
I really enjoyed the talk and realize this is the result of years of work by several people and expect there is so much more. As a Trombley and someone who spent his childhood on the Reno/Marsh/Roney property at 840 LSR, this really resonates and I look forward to learning more.
Loved the book and glad I found this lecture. Thank you for championing and immortalizing our Michigan gem. I worked in the East Grand Rapids store for the last 12 years of it's existence. Jacobson's offered me so much opportunity and I loved going to work every day! Jacobson's EGR store manager, Jeffrey Gerlich mentored me in high-end service and luxury goods and coached me on my goal, $1 million/year in sales. When the liquidators came in, Neiman Marcus, Michigan Avenue offered me a position as personal shopper and I moved to Chicago. I'll never forget meeting Donna Karan there at a PA and she told me how much she missed Jacobson's. Many other designers I've met have shared their fond memories of "Jake's" as well. From Neimans, I went on to open and subsequently sell, my own luxury e-commerce start up. I now work for myself as personal stylist in Chicago and I'm thrilled to give Jacobson's most of the credit. I CHERISH my rich experience at one of the last small department stores of a bygone era.
I lived in GPF (Mapleton) and GP (509 Lincoln Rd.) until I was 12. My mother, who went to Liggett as did her mother and my sister, was an editor at the Grosse Pointe News. My father was the AME at the Free Press. My sisters and I swam for the Detroit Boat Club. This was an amazing walk down memory lane.
Very interesting as I was born in Bon Secours Hospital I Grosse Pointe in 1957 and resided as an infant in Grosse Pointe at my father's Aunt Frances Locher's mansion where she wrote classical piano music as well as recorded it n my parents n I lived there in 1957, thru 1959 at the manse where I was attended to by a Mammy. I of course only heard the stories I do not remember much at all, except the grand staircase coming from both sides of the mansion meeting in the middle with the huge pillars n sweeping staircase that branched left n right. I still see it in my dreams, n I am now 65 yrs old!!! Also, my father's mother, my grandmother Locher who remarried my Grandfather Locher back in the 1930's, was the society column editor if the Detroit Free Press newspaper during the 1920's. Wow!!; Grosse Pointe was always special in my family!;
5:00 The background music you hear is a french canadian tune named ''Un Canadien Errant'' (loosely translated ''A Wandering Canadian''. The lyrics talk about a french canadian banished from his homestead wandering far away in foreign countries saying that he remembers his friends (and misses them).
Lovely illustrations, the most realistic that I've seen of the Griffon's story, and a good retelling of the details known about the Griffon's short life and maiden voyage. Strange that it hasn't been found yet, but I'm confident that it will be. Where can it go? I especially enjoyed the illustrations of the crew towing the ship upriver and against the current. 10 days hauling from Algonac to Pt. Huron is 3 miles per day, with no tow path against a very strong current, pulling 45 tons of ship. Almost unbelievable. Maybe they had a tailwind? I'll have to check out the book. Very interesting talk.
Great video. Thank you Dennis for sharing your experience on the Daniel J Morrell. I was a sailor myself on the USS America CVA-66 back in the 70's. I loved being at sea watching flight ops I wish I could do it again.
The Photographer did a FABULOUS JOB!! And everyone should check out & join the Grosse Pointe Historical Society….it’s a fantastic, enriching organization with SO much to offer!!
We're grateful to the Grosse Pointe Historical Society for finally sharing this '15 speaker clip in 2022! I remember this doing this 2015 event and how it was a wonderful opportunity to share Harley's mid-twentieth century story at the home he lived in, when at the time, America's auto industry and Detroit were the crown jewel of the entire business world! Harley's middle name was simply "J" and not Jarvis. Many simple things about Harley J. Earl (HJE) were never shared outside the family. To say the least, Harley and his wife Sue were extremely private people, hence nobody in the automotive journalistic community ever knew his middle name. Only after HJE passed away in 1969 did names like Jefferson or Jarvis started being used by writers.
I've enjoyed all your videos but this one, that I finally had time to listen to and looked forward to, is too disappointing because of the audio breakups. Why wasn't this redone before posting ?
My 7x’s Great Grandfather Julien Freton dit Nanteis was one of the very fist settlers of Grosse Pointe an and I believe him or a son fought in the Civil War as well..I’m very proud to be his 7x’s great granddaughter.
ENTIRELY tragic that it was demolished. Even though it was designated as a National Historic Place it STILL GOT TORN DOWN. Beyond disgusting and no doubt completely illegal and criminal! Annnnnnd it was one of the earliest year-round homes to be built in the Grosse Pointes! Too depressing to keep thinking about!
Nice story, but it was whitewashed somewhat---- Narrator Tom Weaver stated at the beginning that Grosse Pointe was uninhabited-- Wrong----- Native tribes had lived there for thousands of years---- Also, he touched on the treaty of 1783--- That was the treaty of Paris-- One of the worst treaties that the sub chiefs ever signed-- They didn't fully realize they were signing over millions of acres of ancestral land to the British--- Tecumseh was enraged with this development and tried to negate the treaty, leading up to the battles of Lake Erie, and Lake St Clair--- Tecumseh was killed at the Battle of the Thames R in 1813-----
Martin Luther King was allowed to speak there but he would not have been allowed to own a home because of the racial covenants or redlining. I was waiting to see how the people who put this wonderful documentary together we're going to address that part of the grosse pointe's history. Nonetheless it's very informative.
as late as the 1960's Grosse Pointe was a sundown town where black people were picked up by the police and taken to the nearest bus stop over the border with Detroit when the sun went down.. I know this because I lived there then.
@@chrisadams416 we had more mafia members living in that town than anywhere else. I know this because I went to school and knew all the kids. the next block over from our house the cops pulled a tractor trailer of bootleg liquor out of the basement of a house.There was also so much drug use going on.. In 1966 the GPF boy scout troop had the most eagle scouts by 1971 we had the most drug addicts. There gang fights and lots of theft.. I know this because I was part of it.
