The Algonquian Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario Vol. XIV, No. 7. March 2008.

The Algonquin Club is an educational, international, not-for-profit organization for the study of history, especially as related to the local region. Membership is open to all people with an interest in the heritage of Detroit, Windsor and the Great Lakes. The annual membership fee is just $20 (U.S./Cdn).

Multi-sensory History Experience Awaits Step back into history with your mind and body at the next meeting of the Algonquin Club. A present- ation on the centuries-old heritage of Fort Wayne and the Detroit area by two experts in the field will provide the cerebral stimulation. The tradition of muskrat stew and venison and turkey will stimulate the taste buds. As in the past 11 years, it is happening in conjunction with the Monroe Historical Society. Details on the speakers and meeting location are found within. Also within these pages is a synopsis of the most recent Algonquin Club meeting, club contact info, executive list, meeting schedule, and some upcoming history-related events in the area. Enjoy! Next Meeting 6:30 P.M., Tuesday, March 18, 2008. Monroe Boat Club (Monroe, MI) U.S.A. James Conway & David Jamroz on Detroit's Historic Fort Wayne. Muskrat Dinner with Monroe Historical Society. The military secret of Motown -- Historic Fort Wayne -- was built in 1845 to defend what was to become the motor city. Then located between the American city and the British Fort Malden at Amherstburg, it is now within the city limits just downstream of the Ambassador Bridge. The first American-built and sole-surviving fort along the American side of the Detroit River, its plan forms a five-pointed star. In its day its firepower was capable of reaching the shores of British North America's Upper Canada (now Canada's Ontario). Fort Wayne was named for General Anthony Wayne, also known as 'Mad Anthony', whose 1794 victory over British and Native American forces at Fallen Timbers resulted in the United States occupation of the Northwest Territories (now Michigan). The property has served as an infantry garrison and training station, and a vehicle and armament procurement location during WWII. In 1949, the old military site was given by the U.S. federal government to the City of Detroit. Since 2001, it has been open to the public only on summer weekends. Last year, a new book provided a peak into Historic Fort Wayne's long history. One of its authors, Jim Conway, is a long-standing member and current American V.P. of the Algonquin Club as well as being the Project Manager of Historic Fort Wayne and the former Chief Curator of the Detroit Historical Museum. James E. Conway and David F. Jamroz. Detroit's Historic Fort Wayne. April 9, 2007. Arcadia Publishing (Mount Pleasant, SC). Paperback, 128 pages, illustrated (B&W photos). ISBN 0738551120. Price: U.S.$19.99. This is the 12th annual Muskrat Dinner held jointly with Monroe Historical Society since the Algonquin Club's tradition was reinstituted in 1997. For the past couple of years it has been held at the Monroe Boat Club. (Full address, basic directions, and web-sites with complete directions are on Page The Algonquian newsletter of the Algonquin Club of Detroit & Windsor March 2008 Page 2

4.) The Algonquian newsletter of the Algonquin Club of Detroit & Windsor March 2008 Page 3 Past Meeting Tuesday, February 19, 2008. Fogolar Furlan Club (Windsor, ON) Canada. Patricia Lorrain Neely-McCurdy on African-American Architecture in Buxton with Essex County Black History Research Society. The Algonquin Club's brass bell rang out to call to order the meeting of over 40 people at the new, regular Canadian meeting site. The Fogolar Fulan Club's large Dante Costa room provided everything from a microphone and projection system to a meal including pasta with meat sauce and roast pork with peppercorn sauce. Algonquin Club President Bob Lynch provided a light-hearted presentation of artefacts to Heather Colautti and Madelyn Della Valle of Windsor's Community Museum. The items -- a cup and saucer and spoon were stand-ins for the Norton Palmer pieces donated by the absent Art Woodford, as announced at the last meeting. Canadian Vice- Bob Lynch presenting to Madelyn Della President John Tomlinson provided an overview of the three exhibit Valle and Heather Colautti of Windsor's tables -- one about Vimy and the recent Windsor Military conference, Community Museum. (Paul Fleet photos) one by the Northstar Cultural Community Centre, and one by the speaker. The background of the later was provided by Nancy Allan. Patricia Lorrain Neely-McCurdy of Windsor is a single-mother with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and a Masters degree in Housing and Environmental Design from Michigan State University. In 1970 she established the Interior Design program at St. Clair College. More recently, she founded the Black Heritage Club in Windsor and is a member of a number of community organizations including North Star centre, the Local Architectural Conservation Committee of Windsor, and the Essex County Black Historical Research Society. Neely provided a fascinating analysis of architecture, illustrated by computer-slide presentation. The theme was the influence of African influence on architecture in North America, but it also Author Patricia Neely-McCurdy. explained European building designs.

A Hall House was built on the ground with no foundation and a fireplace and asymmetrical front appearance. A Gothic and Saltbox House is suited to the cold climate of Europe with its two storey design, central fireplace in a main-floor all-purpose room and small leaded glass windows. It features close eves, gables in the roof, and asymmetrical facade. Historically, France was the largest land owner in America with its holdings of New France (now Ontario and Quebec), Louisiana (now the eastern half of the U.S.) and the Caribbean island of Haiti. The French Vernacular style house was dominated in outward appearance by its roof which makes up two-thirds of its height. A single full storey, it also has dormer windows in the upper level. African immigrants to North America included some free men but were mostly slaves. With little knowledge or education, they built Hall House style buildings and slave houses with materials which were new to them, based on their memories. In the warm climate of Africa there was no need for fireplaces, so were added to the side of their houses here, rather than built internally. Wide overhangs, symmetrical appearance, porches, and central passageways were additional characteristics of this new construction. So too were roof-supporting columns that are usually though of as Greek. The Yoruba or Shotgun house, used by many gold miners, featured aligned front and rear outside doors, allowing the occupant to exit out the back while firing through the building at a robber entering the front. Double Module or Double Pen houses, with two separate structures connected by a common roof and open walkway, and the roundhouse were architectural designs unique to Africa that also appeared here. All of them were built up, off the ground. During the 19th Century, the Underground Railroad provided a route to freedom for 35,000 to 40,000 American slaves -- since Canada abolished slavery in 1834 while the U.S. enacted the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850 but then freed their slaves in 1868. Black settlements in Ontario included Windsor and Maidstone in Essex County and Buxton, Dresden and Chatham in Kent County. Buxton, established by a white Protestant Minister, was the largest and most prosperous with land declared heir property ensuring family accession. Today it's an historic site. A hybrid of African and European influences was the I-House which was a two-story building with an identifiable porch, but just one room deep. Canadian French style houses included the French Colonial design, later The Algonquian newsletter of the Algonquin Club of Detroit & Windsor March 2008 Page 4 called French Regency, raised off the ground with internal chimneys, symmetry and a porch. The Algonquian newsletter of the Algonquin Club of Detroit & Windsor March 2008 Page 5 Past Meeting (continued) Neely contrasted the black-owned Robbins house with the Hutcheson house owned by whites. The former was a smaller 1-1/2 storey building with a porch and a stove with a chimney. The latter was a larger two-floor structure without a veranda but with a fireplace. Before the close of the meeting with the ringing of the Algonquin bell and clearing of cups and cutlery, American Vice-President Jim Conway gave a brief preview of the next meeting. Patricia Lorraine Neely. The Houses Of Buxton: A Legacy of African Influences in Architecture. P Designs Publishing (Windsor, ON). 2006. Hard/paperback, 135 pages, ill. ISBN 0-9738754. Price Cdn.$32.95/U.S.$29.95. The North Star Cultural Community Centre is located in downtown Windsor, Ontario (www.northstarcentre.org). Address & Contact Info American Mail: Algonquin Club - Detroit. 556 West Maple Road, Birmingham, MI 48009 Canadian Mail: Algonquin Club - Windsor. 113 Kingswood Drive, Kingsville, ON N9Y3N2 2007-2009 Executive Past President John A. Bluth (Birmingham, MI) President Bob Lynch (Kingsville, ON) American V.P. Jim Conway (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI) Canadian V.P. John Tomlinson (Windsor, ON) Treasurer Bill McElhone (Birmingham, MI) Secretary Jean Dodenhoff (Detroit, MI) Editor Paul Fleet (Windsor, ON) Meeting Reservations Regular meetings of the Algonquin Club are held on the third Tuesday of each month from September through May (nine times annually) with the venue alternating between the two countries. Gathering time is usually 6:30 P.M. with the program of a dinner and a keynote speaker starting at 7:00 P.M. Admission to just cover expenses is typically under-U.S./Cdn.$25. Reservations are required by the Thursday prior to the meeting. To confirm your attendance, please contact either Treasurer Bill McElhone (Birmingham, Michigan) or Canadian V.P. John Tomlinson (Windsor, Ontario). Click on the underlined hyperlink to e-mail. 2007-2008 Schedule Tuesday, September 18, 2007. Tammy Taylor & Clare Koester on Grosse Ile History. Clawson Steak House (Clawson, MI) U.S.A. Tuesday, October 16, 2007. Evelyn McLean on Albert Kahn Architecture with Essex County Historical Society. Willistead Manor (Windsor, ON) Canada. Tuesday, November 20, 2007. Joe Callanan & Richard Bell on Rowing in Detroit. Clawson Steak House (Clawson, MI) U.S.A. Tuesday, December 18, 2007. Hardy Wheeler on Vimy Ridge with The Military Institute of Windsor. Tilston Armoury (Windsor, ON) Canada. Tuesday, January 15, 2008. Cynthia Read Miller on Photo Treasures of The Henry Ford. Clawson Steak House (Clawson, MI) U.S.A. Tuesday, February 19, 2008. Pat Neely-McCurdy on African-American Architecture in Buxton with Essex County Black History Research Society. Fogolar Furlan Club (Windsor, ON) Canada. Tuesday, March 18, 2008. James Conway & David Jamroz on Detroit's Historic Fort Wayne. Muskrat Dinner with Monroe Historical Society. Monroe Boat Club (Monroe, MI) U.S.A. Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Herb Colling on Detroit Riots of 1967. Fogolar Furlan Club (Windsor, ON) Canada. Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Marijean Levering on Detroit Players Theatre. Clawson Steak House (Clawson, MI) U.S.A. The Algonquian newsletter of the Algonquin Club of Detroit & Windsor March 2008 Page 6 The Algonquian newsletter of the Algonquin Club of Detroit & Windsor March 2008 Page 7 Other Events of Interest

Now - 2008.04.19: Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays through April 19, 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. -- National Automotive History Collection's "Postcards from Detroit: Remembering Formula 1 in the Motor City" exhibit of Roger Hart photography of the Detroit Grand Prix 1982-1988. Detroit Public Library - Skillman Branch (Detroit, MI). Free admission.

2008.04.04-05: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Friday, April 4 & 8:30 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Saturday, April 5, 2008. Wayne State University's 50th Annual Local History Conference "Michigan in Perspective" will be held at the WSU McGregor Memorial Conference Center (Detroit, MI). Registration U.S.$15 (2007) plus meals (plus parking) in advance, c/o: WSU Walter P. Reuther Library, Detroit, MI 48202 U.S.A. (313)577-4003. The Algonquin Club is a sponsor and participating organization.

Meeting Venues March 2008: Monroe Boat Club, 7932 Bolles Harbor Road, Monroe, MI 48161 734.243.8935. Maps: http://www.monroeboatclub.org/directions.htm or http://maps.yahoo.com. (Directions, from Detroit: I-75 Southbound Exit 11, left onto LaPlaisance Rd., left onto B.H.R.)

Regular gathering facilities for the Algonquin Club are wheelchair accessible with everything at grade level without stairs, including the meeting room, washrooms, and the bar.

Clawson Steak House restaurant: 56 South Rochester Road, Clawson, Michigan 48017 (248)588-5788 Fax(248)588-8411 (southwest of E. 14 Mile Rd. & S. Rochester Rd., 3 traffic-lights west of I-75 at Oakland Mall Exit 65-B) Web-site: www.clawsonsteakhouse.com E-mail: [email protected]

Fogolar Furlan Club: 1800 E.C. Row Avenue / North Service Road, Windsor, ON N8W1Y3 (between Howard Ave. & Walker Rd.) 519-966-2230 Fax:519-966-2237 Web-site: www.fogolar.com

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Algonquin Club - Detroit 556 West Maple Road Birmingham, MI 48009 U.S.A.

Algonquin Club - Windsor 113 Kingswood Drive Kingsville, ON N9Y 3N2 Canada

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