  Ct4438 Member Username: Ct4438 Post Number: 14 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 67.37.215.187 |
I've been collecting and recording lots of genealogical info on my family over the past couple of years and I've decided that I'd like to learn more about the "wheres" now that I have the "whens". My mother's parents were born in Detroit, employed in Detroit,etc....my father's parents came to Detroit as children during the 1920s. So, where would be some good starting places in order to learn if some of their old homes, workplaces are still standing? And if not, what's there now? I'm looking for anything...libraries, museums, any decent websites. Thanks in advance for the help! | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 2718 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.218.157.164 |
If you have addresses start with http://www4.ci.detroit.mi.us/C ityofDetroit/ Just some barebones info, but a start to see if they still exist. | ||
My2cents Member Username: My2cents Post Number: 127 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 24.253.67.62 |
Hey ct4438, Have you checked these out? http://www.dsgr.org/ http://www.detroitpubliclibrar y.org/burton/burton_index.htm | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1180 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.238.170.31 |
If you have the address of where they lived that can help a lot. If you don't have an address, the best place to start are the old city directories. There are a few folks on the site who have access to them. If you post the names, approximated dates and a rough guess of what part of town they lived in they'll probably get some answers for you and start you on your way. | ||
Ct4438 Member Username: Ct4438 Post Number: 16 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 67.37.215.187 |
it'd probably be better to ask what year(s) of the city directories does any wonderful soul have access to? You see, both sets of grandparents resided and worked in Detroit..but only my mother's were born there (in 1906 & 1913). My father's parents didn't move to Detroit until the late 1920s. So, that's a lot of time to cover. | ||
Funkycarrie Member Username: Funkycarrie Post Number: 181 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 68.251.199.185 |
The Burton Collection at the Detroit Library is your best bet. I still need to get there to see if I can find out where this picture of my great-grandmother was taken (its infront of her home) (Message edited by funkycarrie on February 21, 2006) | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 304 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139 |
I have access to the U.S. Census indexes on computer thanks to my local library. E-mail me with their names and approximate years of where they lived and I'll see what I can dig up for you. RDown3657@aol.com | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 22 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
the polk guides at the burton collection of the DPL are great for finding where people used to reside. | ||
Dan_cluley Member Username: Dan_cluley Post Number: 3 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 207.179.99.136 |
If you are outstate, the Library of Michigan in Lansing also has a good collection of early City Directories (Detroit coverage is pretty complete from Civil War-1920's, spotty after that) One thing to watch for, is there seems to have been a massive reworking of address numbers around 1920. Dan Cluley | ||
Karl Member Username: Karl Post Number: 1357 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 68.230.22.99 |
Ct4438, I've been having some great fun with my folks using Google Earth, a free download from Google. It would appear that you might have some old addresses, and if so, just type them in. You can find some of my "new Dad's" thoughts over in "Detroit Issues" under "Packard Plant" If you don't have the addresses, once you get them you can zoom to them and see what is there as of several days/weeks/months ago. Google Earth is fast, free and fun. In one evening, we visited his old family home (they moved in in 1912 and it is still there) as well as all the homes of both my siblings and his kids (11 total) and every place they have vacationed in the world over the past 15 years. Last night we zoomed in on the underwater USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor - clear as day. It is the best marriage of space technology, photography, computers and American technological know-how I've ever seen. Good luck! | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 954 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.204 |
Just a warning. Most of the addresses in the older neighborhoods, especially on the east side (which is older and had more rot- and fire-prone frame housing) are no longer there. Prepare to be disappointed. |
