LIVING HISTORY Second Quarter 2012 April - June
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LIVING HISTORY Second Quarter 2012 April - June Deloris Kumler March 16, 1938-March 12, 2012 The Clawson Historical Museum lost an incomparable friend and advocate with the passing of Deloris Kumler. As first President of the Clawson Historical Society and first Curator of the Museum, Deloris was devoted to of the museum from its inception. She, along with other supporters, pushed Delo ris displaying some of the artifacts in the museum, which first was allowed only two rooms of for its creation in the early 1970s, when there was the house. This photo was taken as the museum celebrate d its first year. much animosity toward the Historical Society and the It is impossible to assess the impact her work has idea of a museum was viewed as an unnecessary had on the museum. It is enough to say that, nuisance by City leadership. It is only through her without her, the museum might be very different tireless efforts and consistent guidance that the than what you see today. Although she retired in museum exists as you see it today. 2007, her heart and her life were dedicated to its Deloris worked over 34 years to promote, improve success. Although she is no longer with us, her and protect the museum she loved. Through difficult presence will ever be felt and appreciated by all financial times, she fought to maintain funding and who visit the museum. assured that the museum stayed open to the public. She constantly continued to improve the quality of Inside This Issue the artifacts and exhibits, provided educational programs to the public of all ages, and promoted an 2 Beginnings of the Clawson Historical Society understanding and appreciation of Clawson’s history 3 Bits and Scraps: Starting the Museum; to everyone who visited the museum. 4 From the Archives: Detroit in Its World Setting Museum hours and information; policies; She collected invaluable oral histories from early 5 Clawson Historical Society’s beginnings residents, and helped to correct many myths about 6 Sixty Years Ago in Old Detroit, 1901 Clawson. She was the first, and sometimes only, 7 Old House Update – An Aladdin on Fisher Court resource for certain bits of history, and no one who 8 Upcoming events – Home tour: Preservation Detroit Tours and Events: Thank you donors talked with her could fail to catch her enthusiasm. LIVING HISTORY 1 From the very beginning in 1973, Deloris Kumler, Ethel Kohler and other residents sought to collect the artifacts and stories of Clawson’s early days. LIVING HISTORY 2 Why the 1920s? The 1920s was chosen for the museum for a number of reasons; easy access to historic articles from the era, as well as 1920 being the date the Village of Clawson was incorporated. Also, as Deloris explained in the article above, no one else was doing it! If you would like more information, the above articles may be read at the museum. LIVING HISTORY 3 Clawson Historical Museum Purposes and Policies The Clawson Historical Museum is owned by the City of C LAWSON HISTORICAL Clawson It is governed by a Historical Commission of five MUSEUM members appointed by the Clawson City Council. It is managed by a curator appointed by the City Manager. Its 41 FISHER COURT operating budget is funded through the City of Clawson and augmented by generous donations from the Clawson MAILING ADDRESS : 425 N. MAIN STREET, CLAWSON MI Historical Society. 48017 Museum Purpose: The Clawson Historical Museum exists PHONE: 248-588-9169 to collect, preserve and encourage the use of documents, FAX 248-588-+9169 photographs and artifacts related to the early history of EMAIL: HISTORICALMUSEUM @CITYOFCLAWSON.COM Clawson, from its settlement in 1823 to the present, focusing especially on the decade of the 1920s, when Clawson MUSEUM OPEN WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY, 1-4 P.M., Incorporated as a Home Rule Village. EXCEPT HOLIDAYS . ADMISSION IS FREE Collections: Historical records include those related to area GROUP TOURS BY APPOINTMENT public and civic organizations, as well as personal oral histories of residents, property abstracts, school and business records and thousands of photographs documenting Clawson’s buildings, homes, streets, and the changes they have undergone through the decades. Also included in the collection are maps, almanacs, and contemporary published materials such as newspapers, books, magazines and periodicals that reflect the culture of the 1920s. These materials are available to the public for research on PRESERVING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE genealogy, property history, environmental investigations and other personal interests. Student research is especially VISIT US ON FACEBOOK encouraged. F ROM THE A RCHIVES Oct 6. Detroit Institute of Arts building on DETROIT IN ITS WORLD SETTING Woodward Avenue opened. Dedicated October 8. A 250-Year Chronology, 1701-1951 Cornerstone had been laid April 29, 1924. Published by Detroit Public Library, 1953, Edited Oct 15. New Olympia Stadium opened. by Rae Elizabeth Rips Oct 24. Detroit City Airport opened. This interesting book provides a chronological Dec 8. The passenger steamer Tashmoo broke loose index of significant events in our history, from a from its dock at the foot of Griswold Street and was Detroiter’s perspective. Each year is divided into driven upstream against the Belle Isle Bridge during sections: Detroit and Michigan; World History: a 60-mile gale. Cultural Progress; and Scientific and Commercial Progress. Below is a sample from 1927. Cranbrook Foundation created by George and Ellen Booth. Endowed church, schools, etc. on beautiful Detroit and Michigan: estate near Bloomfield Hills. Cranbrook Academy of Gasoline tax authorized to provide state funds for Arts Establish, 1928, Institute of Science, 1930. The highway construction and maintenance. (see also architect Eliel Saarinen designed buildings for them. 1905) The sculptor Carl Milles came to Cranbrook in 1931. Feb 2 J.L. Hudson Company acquired the Newcomb-Endicott store. Became third largest Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs department store in the United States. Popular songs: Chloe, Blue Skies by Irving Berlin; Strike up the Band, by Ira and George Gershwin, Ol’ May 26. Last Model T Ford rolled off the Man River (Showboat) by Jerome Kern. assembly line. Model A shown in December. LIVING HISTORY 4 Bits and Scraps There was quite a struggle with the City Manager The Clawson Historical Society was organized in December 1974. With the anticipation of the over whether or not the Historical Society would be Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration only two years allowed to use the house on Fisher Court to store away, there was renewed interest in preserving and display their artifacts. Originally allowed in only history, and many residents were eager to donate two rooms on the second floor, artifacts gradually their family heirlooms to the new historical group. began to fill other rooms; at the same time, the City was deciding the house was not suitable for The first artifact registered in the accession book additional offices (it was originally slated for was received in 1973 from Mildred Baker Parady. demolition to create library parking.) Finally in 1977 It is an enameled water dipper that was used at the the entire building at 41 Fisher Court was dedicated community well that was at the southwest corner as the Clawson Historical Museum. of 14 Mile and Main Street. Mrs. Parady’s father, Charles Baker, and mother, Harriet Phillips Baker, Thanks to diligent management and generous operated the general store on that corner in the donations, the museum now holds thousands of early 1900s. artifacts, documents and photographs; many have been rescued from certain destruction as homes Many books were donated, mainly spelling books were razed or renovated and as local institutions and other instructional texts, as well as a couple of purged their storage rooms and archives. land abstracts, including one for the Blair farm, where the library and museum now stand. As an aside, a very nice cross-section of Interurban track, mounted on a wooden plaque, was donated to A ticket for the DUR (interurban) was a very the museum in 1974 by Edward Hermoyian, the City interesting acquisition, donated by Kathleen Manager who had so vehemently opposed the Cadger Harrison, and a few metal dog tags, one in creation of the museum. I like to think he would be the shape of a heart. Milk bottles, documents, pleased if he were to visit today. license plates and candlesticks found their way into Deloris Kumler’s home while the Historical Society sought a home for these treasures. One of two Interurban tickets donated to the museum. This one was dated March 1927. A dime took the rider from Royal Oak to Clawson. LIVING HISTORY 5 Detroit Sixty Years Ago Jefferson avenue. I can just remember an old market building, constructed of alternate Thomas W. Palmer strips and open air in the middle of Woodward, Michigan Pioneer and Historical papers, 1902. just south of Jefferson. It was in the front or th rear of it where the old whipping post stood, (Detroit in the 19 century was a flat plateau with where malefactors were publicly whipped for sand cliffs near Springwells, and many small minor offenses. Its abandonment was much streams and creeks running to the Detroit River. In regretted by many of the old inhabitants, for his description of Detroit, Mr. Palmer recalls the delinquent always hied himself to the next many interesting features of the city in its youth, town and afterward the town was permanently and with a little imagination the reader can rid of him. I have been told that men, instead recreate a visual image of what it may have looked of being sentenced for a definite time, were like over 150 years ago.) sold for a season instead… …..Jefferson avenue was the principal street for …Woodward avenue terminated to all intents business and residences.