Old City Pics » Detroit

Boblo Island in 1964

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:58:01 +0000

Anybody raised in Detroit remembers going to the amusement park on Boblo Island. But most Detroiters don’t know the real name was actually “Bois Blanc Island”, and that the Boblo boat was really two boats – The SS Columbia and The SS Ste. Claire. Due to competition from Cedar Point, Boblo Island shut its doors in 1993. This particular photo is courtesy of The Michigan Standard, who innovated the online newspaper in Michigan.

Woodward and 8 Mile Circa 1956

admin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:51:46 +0000

Taken in 1956, this area of Detroit has remained unchanged. The Woodward hump over 8 Mile is still there, physically marking the transition from Detroit into the northern suburbs – in this case, Ferndale.

The Hudson Building – Largest Department Store in the world

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:44:39 +0000

This shot is from 1983 showing the world famous Hudson Building – once the largest department store in the world, now a useless parking lot. The leadership of Detroit doing what they do best – tearing Detroit down one business at a time. It took them 4 years to get approval to tear it down, but only 10 seconds for it to fall. If there is a more incompetent, functionally illiterate, borderline retarded group of people in the world than the Detroit city council – we challenge anyone to prove it.

Highland Park at Woodward and Puritan

admin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:35:34 +0000

Shot down Woodward Avenue in 1956 near Puritan Avenue in Highland Park. That Sears building has since been replaced with a fabulous new luxury department store, cleverly disguised as an empty parking lot with homeless people sleeping in it.

Trolley Stop at Woodward and State Street

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:30:29 +0000

Taken in 1949, this shot shows people waiting for the trolley in front of Kern’s at State Street and Woodward Avenue in Downtown Detroit.

Busiest Intersection in the world – Michigan & Woodward

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:07:44 +0000

Most people think of New York when they think of busy roads, but the title of the busiest intersection in the world actually belonged to Detroit at the site of the world’s first traffic light – Michigan Ave and Woodward Ave circa 1920.

Woodward Between 6 Mile and 7 Mile

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:00:01 +0000

Looks a lot different now with all the tranny hookers, but 100 years ago this stretch of road through the heart of Detroit looked like any other country road.

Construction of I-94 at Woodward

admin — Sat, 30 May 2009 07:14:48 +0000

Cool shot showing the intersection of two of Detroit’s main arteries. This is during the Construction of the Ford Freeway (I-94) at Woodward. the snow on the ground means this was probably taken sometime between August and June. Definitely not July – no snow in July.

Capitol Park Station Circa 1962

admin — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:56:45 +0000

Near the intersection of Griswold and State Street in downtown Detroit, Capitol Park is still there…kinda. Since the newly built Rosa Parks Transit Center, this is no longer used as a transportation center. The city of Detroit plans to somehow lure in business now by “redeveloping” this little plot of land.

Belle Isle and Electric Park – 1923

admin — Sun, 17 May 2009 06:45:12 +0000

Belle Isle – supposedly the jewel of Detroit (quite unpolished…) taken in 1923. You can see the Belle Isle Bridge as well as the long gone Electric Park in the background.