  Masterblaster Member Username: Masterblaster Post Number: 11 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 155.79.138.253 |
Wikipedia.com's article on Detroit states: "Metro Detroit has the largest concentration of Belgians outside of Belgium. The Detroit area is also home to a large Chaldean-Assyrian population and the country's largest concentration of Arab Americans whose retail businesses are the lifeblood of the Detroit neighborhoods,[13] including some 90% of the city's "party stores" (selling lottery tickets, hard liquor, and snack foods). The southwest side of the city contains a small Chicano community in the area lately renamed "Mexicantown." Up until the 1980s, there was a growing gay presence in the Palmer Park area in the north of the city that migrated to the cities of Ferndale and Royal Oak after the community collapsed.[14]" CAN ANYONE ATTEST TO THEIR BEING A NOTICEABLE NUMBER OF BELGIANS THAT LIVE AROUND METRO DETROIT?????? DID YOU READ THAT "CHALDEANS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE DETROIT NEIGHBORHOODS"? THAT IS SAD, because they don't even live in (the city of) Detroit!!! | ||
Track75 Member Username: Track75 Post Number: 2332 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 12.75.20.196 |
I can't comment on the Belgians but the wiki didn't say Chaldeans are the lifeblood of the neighborhoods, it said that their businesses are the lifeblood. Like it or not, they do dominate neighborhood retail in the city. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 7275 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19 |
Define retail. | ||
Jfre66_77 Member Username: Jfre66_77 Post Number: 30 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 12.15.1.161 |
I don't know any (Belgians) personally, but their waffles are excellent. | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 3186 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.218.152.64 |
http://www.everyculture.com/mu lti/A-Br/Belgian-Americans.htm l Seems to be a bit of a Belgian - decendant enclave in the Fraser area. (Message edited by JamS on April 28, 2006) | ||
Track75 Member Username: Track75 Post Number: 2333 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 12.75.20.196 |
For purposes of this discussion, party stores, gas stations and cell phone stores. | ||
Gmich99 Member Username: Gmich99 Post Number: 91 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 24.208.243.207 |
Belgian wheat beers and mussels are to die for | ||
J_stone Member Username: J_stone Post Number: 299 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 63.77.247.130 |
I like their beer. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 33 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 63.85.13.248 |
Master, Chaldeans are found in the Seven Mile/John R Neighborhood as well as the Warrendale neighborhood. They must be living in other parts of the city as well. Your assumption is borderline racist. That would be like denying that there are black people in the suburbs because Detroit is mostly black. Don't be divisive, we have enough of the experts and the racists playing that game. | ||
Kova Member Username: Kova Post Number: 233 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.212.57.86 |
Detroitplanner his assumptions aren't borderline racist at all, gime a break! Chaldeans by and large don't live in the city, relative to their muslim counterparts. He obviusly did not know about Seven Mile John R, and neither would anyone else if that had not been to the area as it is quite small. (Message edited by KOVA on April 28, 2006) | ||
Southwestmap Member Username: Southwestmap Post Number: 459 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 64.79.90.206 |
I think Master's comments are more directed to the Wiki entry's misinformation in general (and isn't that an issue when usng on-line information?)- but the lucky thing is that misinformation can be written over in the Wiki. Once again, accusations of racism rear their ugly heads where racism was never intended. | ||
Mc5rules Member Username: Mc5rules Post Number: 168 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 148.61.97.101 |
My great-grandma migrated from Ghent, Belgium to Detroit on the eve of WWI, for what it's worth... | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3729 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Detroit area Belgians, yr. 2000, 39,674. Most are Flemings (Flemish). First settlement was in 1833. Eastsiders and Eastern suburbs. Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 1884. St. John Berchmans Church, 1923. Both on eastside of Detroit. They like racing pigeons in backyard coops. St. Philomena Church, Mack and Marseilles. Cadieux Cafe, Cadieux and Mack Ave. This is one of the remaining truly Belgian saloons left in Detroit. Amazing as it may sound, jjaba never ever heard of them growing up on the Westside in the 1940s, 1950s. Add Belgian chocolate to your list. jjaba, Westside Bar Mitzvah Bukkor. | ||
Steelworker Member Username: Steelworker Post Number: 644 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 70.229.112.218 |
I have belgian ancestry. I dont know if that counts | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3732 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Ok, 39,675 if we include Steelworker. Next time, say "Belgian" instead of pasty whiteguy. You'll get a chance in 2010. jjaba. | ||
Ghetto_butterfly Member Username: Ghetto_butterfly Post Number: 598 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 12.159.48.254 |
I'm Belgian, born and raised there until I moved to the US 13 years ago. Although I have met many people with Belgian ancestry here in the Detroit area, my son and me are the only "real" Belgians I know. And yes, our beers are the best with the most varieties, so is the chocolate and the french fries. And I have never played featherball in my life, neither there nor here, so it must be a flemish thing. | ||
Tarkus Member Username: Tarkus Post Number: 12 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 69.222.98.86 |
I'm Belgian. Belgians generally lived on the Eastside from St. Jean to Moross. At one time Mack ave. had 10 belgian butcher and pastery shops. The only one left is Verdonckts at Mack and Wayburn. Although it is now owned by Albanians. St. Clare has a lot of Belgians still there. St. Matthews. Verheyden Funeral home is Belgian. Vergotes poultry on Harper and Whittier started out Belgian selling live chickens slaughtered in front of you. And the Cadieux Cafe of course. There were also several butcher shops on Harper as well. Blanckes (who own Sinbads) and Embos market. Belgian sausage can still be purchased at Village market on Mack in GPW. | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 788 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 136.1.1.101 |
"so it must be a flemish thing." Please Butterfly, this is the sort of divisiveness that is tearing our region apart. | ||
Gmich99 Member Username: Gmich99 Post Number: 92 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 24.208.243.207 |
My grandfather married a woman from Belgium. Her family moved to the Detroit-area after World War II. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1091 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.57 |
The owner of Antoon's Bicycle Shop up by Whatever Mile Rd is from Belgium. The Belg/Flegms(?) migrated up to the Roseville/Fraser area from the Eastside, local parish at 13 and Kelly Rd, Fr. Tallieu (sp?) Retirement Home located there, at least a few years ago there was still a Belgian Band that rehearsed there (free beer at rehearsals!). | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1299 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 140.244.107.151 |
Don't forget Verdonckt's Belgian Bakery on Mack Ave. near Alter Rd. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2028 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.147.132 |
The Flemish and Walloons (French speaking) Belgians have always been at odds with each other. When a Walloon "Theiron" married a Flemish "Guns" (remember Guns Ford Dealership on Jefferson?) in the 1940's, it was considered scandalous. The nationality issue in Belgium explains why in 1830 (when Belgium became a country) they asked Prince Leopold of the German duchy of Saxe-Coburg to become their first king. I grew up on the far east side in the 60's and 70's, and as a kid saw my fair share of pigeon coops in the back yards of the Belgian neighbors throughout the region. I didn't care too much for pigeons, and neither did my 1967 Ford Galaxy 500.  (Message edited by Gistok on April 28, 2006) | ||
Udmphikapbob Member Username: Udmphikapbob Post Number: 144 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 206.81.45.34 |
Support Detroit - buy Belgian beers at Chaldean-owned party stores! | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3735 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Gistok, you made my day. jjaba drove a 1957 Ford Custom, two-tone. Didn't like pigeons either. Like he said, the Westside was full of Euro-americans and middle easterners, but we never ever heard about Belgians. Must be a deep Eastside thang. Thanks, this is very instructive. jjaba, Tells it like it tis. | ||
Speddaddy4 Member Username: Speddaddy4 Post Number: 37 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 141.217.84.83 |
I am Belgian! My great grandparents moved here around 1919 from Belgian and lived on the East side until they bought a far in Hale, Michigan. I'm proud to be Flemish! My grandmother still speaks that dialect. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 764 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 68.74.10.30 |
how did Palmer Park community collapse in the 80's?? ...that entry seems a bit off | ||
Historyguy Member Username: Historyguy Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
I believe Dave DeBusschere (of the Pistons, Tigers and New York Knicks) was of Belgian descent and attended Austin High (an eastside Catholic school) in the late 1950s. He attended college at the University of Detroit. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3749 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Historyguy, welcome to the Forum. Post 12 was a good one. Get in, get out. Tell it like it tis. jjaba, Westsider. | ||
Umstucoach Member Username: Umstucoach Post Number: 17 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
You are correct Historyguy. | ||
Jelk Member Username: Jelk Post Number: 3731 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 141.217.119.145 |
DeBusschere did indeed go to Austin, UofD, etc. When he played for the Pistons in 1965 a pretty smart man named him the youngest head coach in American pro sports history. Actually DeBusschere was said smart man's second choice, but the politics of sport of the day would let him hire Earl Lloyd in 1965. | ||
Erikd Member Username: Erikd Post Number: 601 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.242.214.106 |
My grandmother and great-grandparents left Belgium for eastside Detroit after WW1. From what I have been told, my great-grandfather worked as a cooper for Strohs. | ||
Historyguy Member Username: Historyguy Post Number: 13 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
Thank you, Jjaba for your very kind words. I've enjoyed and learned from your posts. I grew up on the West Side as well, Seven Mile and Meyers. I caught the tail end of stores and restaurants such as Star Bakery, the Royal Theater and Darby's. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3758 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Welcome to Forum, Historyguy. Your Royal Theater was designed by Charles N. Agree who did the Vanity Ballroom on E. Jefferson and many other incredible Detroit venues. Built: 1940, 2,496 seats. Construction: $247,000. Had Air conditioning from day one. Closed, 1969. Was part of Wisper and Wetsman circuit. Building and land sold to Grace Hospital. jjaba, sorry to threadjack for the newbie. Now back to Belgians. | ||
7051 Member Username: 7051 Post Number: 5 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 70.227.216.209 |
I own a building on Harper next to Elam's Bar. I've been told by many in the area that it was a Sec. of State office for many years and that it also had a small butcher's shop in the rear. What was the name of the butcher or the butcher shop and what years did the building house the Sec. of State and the butcher's shop? It was a video store for about ten years prior to us converting it to a laundromat in 2002. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2033 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.3.183 |
Well well well.... I assume you are talking about the retail block between Bluehill and Woodhall (and where Morang ends).... I grew up on Marseilles in the 1960's, and as a 10 year old often went past the stores on my way to the Vogue Theatre (Bishop & Harper) and Earl's Bike Shop (Audobon & Harper). That would be ELMO's GROCERY & MEAT SHOP. I've known it as that in the 1960's. I believe sometime in the 70's it was a Secretary of State, (possibly still with the butcher shop in the back) and at some point in the late 80's it became a video store. Next door to that building was a Barber Shop, and the building next to that was known as "THE MILK DEPOT" where my parents used to buy their bread and dairy items. At the opposite end of the block was a Flemings Drug Store. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2454 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
Listed in a 1967 Yellow Pages, and a 1961 White Pages: Embo's Market Meat - Groceries - Beer - Wine - Delivery 17440 Harper TU1-5301 Now back in 1940, Embo was closer to town, at 10707 Harper. The 17400 block of Harper back then was the Harper Airport, a grass strip at the northwest corner of Harper and Morang. 17400 Harper was Wayne County Comfort Station #6, and 17401 Harper was the Peter Sabbe Beer Garden, two things I'm always on the lookout for when I'm looking for a place to land; a bar and a bathroom. The '61 phone book shows the SoS at 16350 Harper and no listing in the '67 phone book. Haper & Morang 1940's?  (Message edited by MikeM on May 01, 2006) | ||
7051 Member Username: 7051 Post Number: 6 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 70.227.216.209 |
Great picture. Do you have any more photos of this street (specifically my building - 17440 Harper? | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3765 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
MikeM, how do you lay down a plane on that triangle? Great photo. Those buses remind jjaba of the Northlawn line clear on the other side of town. jjaba, Westsider. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2457 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
That photo is from the WSU archives. I'm sure it's looking down Chester to the right and Harper to the left. I have no idea why they photographed that intersection, other than that it was (and is) a tricky intersection. Before the freeway went through, Harper, Evanston, and Morang all converged there. You can see where Harper crossed over to Evanston at Chester/Morang. Harper used to be "Mt Clemens Drive" from there northward until the 1930s:  | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1107 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.70 |
Looking at this web site, it shows four Belgian organizations around Detroit, and one in Windsor. http://www.viw.be/buitenland_n oord.html {I have to dig out my old bright yellow, Belgian-American Band t-shirt.} | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1108 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.70 |
This is a slightly later map from the 30s still showing Harper turning into Mt. Clemens, only change is to the DSR routing.  (cue the Dueling Banjos music) | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2460 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
Speaking of associations: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/23585/30447.html Looking at my map (1933), I see the DSR Harper line ended at Morang, which coincidently was the location of one of the county's "comfort stations". Some of the comfort stations built back in the '20s or '30s are quite nice, architecturally. I haven't noticed if the building is still there or not. Gistok, do you remember any building in that block that looks like it could have once been a public bathroom? | ||
Tarkus Member Username: Tarkus Post Number: 23 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 68.43.117.118 |
The Belgian - American Club now meets at Barrister gardens in SCS. Third Tuesday of every month at 7pm, for those who are interested.  | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2093 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.81.207 |
Hey Mikem and Hornwrecker, thanks for the great pic and maps. It is so cool to see how the area looked before the arrival of I-94. As someone who has lived there since 1960 (well my mother still lives there), I had trouble trying to get my bearings straight in that picture. But I think I understand the picture versus the map.... Where the 2 forks in the road are... the road on the left goes thru what today is the Kensington Station Post Office at Harper & Morang, and just behind the 2nd bus on that road is where I-94 goes thru today. At first I thought that this spot is where Chester branches off (to the right) from Harper. But this pic is about 1/2 block sooner. That house in the middle no longer exists. It is where Harper is a narrow boulevard today, and a block further eastbound Harper crosses over from the other side of the freeway. Just behind that house in the middle of the pic is where Chester branches off to the right, but back then Chester was known as Harper for the short stretch until just past Moross. In my 20's I used to take the "CADILLAC EXPRESS" bus (no idea why it was called that) which went from Moross & Chester westbound to where Chester merges with Harper (the picture), continues down Harper as a local bus, but once it hit Gratiot, it turned onto Gratiot towards downtown. On Gratiot is was an Express bus, so no stops along the way to downtown. Given the historical context of this discussion, it answers a question I always had about why the bus went down Chester for that short stretch, and not Harper. Well way back then... Chester WAS Harper! Thanks all! (Message edited by Gistok on May 12, 2006) | ||
Tarkus Member Username: Tarkus Post Number: 24 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 68.43.117.118 |
7051... The Sec of State was all Embos Market at one time. The SoS bought out the front 3/4's of the store in the late 70's and let Al Embo keep a narrow shop in the rear. I used to work for Al Embo doing deliveries. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1150 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.185 |
Gistok, the Cadillac in the name probably refers to the old bus station in Cadillac Square where the route ended, and what a magnificent transportation terminal it was. (The Seven Mile bus stop was at Chester, making a longer walk to school, you'd think that they would have also had a stop at Harper.) | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2094 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.3.184 |
Mikem, I forgot to reply to your question.... no there is no building in that block that looks anything but like a commercial building. Tomorrow when I go visit my mother, I will take a slow drive down Harper and check it out. | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 3276 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.72.148.74 |
The Cadillac route refers to Cadillac Ave, which at one time was the eastern border of Detroit. (near Water Works Park). Like many bus route names it is a holdover from the streetcar lines. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2096 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.129.33 |
Thanks Jams, I kinda thought that Cadillac the street may have been the reason. Isn't it named Cadillac Blvd.? I don't ever remember seeing a boulevard anywhere along Cadillac, again maybe in the early days when it was an outer "ring" type road it may have been a boulevard at one time. Yeah it was kinda funny how a bus line that traveled only on Chester-Harper-Gratiot had "CADILLAC EXPRESS" on the front of the bus. The only spot it touched Cadillac Blvd. was where the old YMCA on Harper/Cadillac (1 block east of Gratiot) is located (where Cadillac Blvd. ended). | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3809 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
The Hamilton bus runs on W. Seven Mile Road. The Dexter traverses W. Grand Blvd. and Cass Avenue. You name a bus for a portion of the ride. We know for certain the the Cadillac bus had nothing to do with the car, although early GM buses may have optioned for Cadillac engines. Many cities go by numbers and names, which gives riders two clues where the hell it will take them. Plus, you usually get a destination like "Through, Local, Express, To City, Terminal, Depot, Station, Westbound, Car Barn, Garage, Log Cabin, Downtown, City Limits, 8 Mile, Telegraph, Lahser, County line, Rouge Plant, Sanitarium, Assylum, Stadium, Bridge, Town Center, Mall, Terminal tower, Capitol Park, Howard, Airport, Shaker, Uptown, Victoria Station, Loop." jjaba, bus historian/rider. | ||
Thecarl Member Username: Thecarl Post Number: 765 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.14.30.175 |
oh, there's bastone's in royal oak...belgian cuisine, and a very popular restaurant. | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 500 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.222.54.70 |
They are here...among us. Sure you can pretend that they are French ... or Dutch with a funny accent.... but we all know... they are Belgian and they are everywhere! | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2499 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
I gotta go with Hornwrecker on the Cadillac Express referring to the Cadillac Square bus station, similar to Capitol Park. You can see it in the middle of the street in the background of this picture. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2098 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.75 |
Mikem and Hornwrecker, I don't disagree with you (cuz I don't know the answer). But didn't a LOT of bus routes end at that spot? Then why would that one particular route be given that name over all other routes? | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2500 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
Well, I'd say it was the only bus running on Harper that was going to Cadillac Sq, so it was the Cadillac Express. It wouldn't be confused with the Cadillac Express running on Gratiot or Van Dyke, etc. Also, I drove by that intersection a few days ago, and the comfort station would have been where the P.O. is now, IIRC. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3812 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Cadillac Express refers to Cadillac Blvd., guaranteed. Somewhere along the route, it turns into an express. Cadillac Square has nothing to do with it. jjaba, old bus rider. | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 3278 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.249.240.180 |
As I said earlier several bus routes have retained the name of the streetcar line that preceded the bus route. Cadillac Blvd, you are correct, was the terminus of that line outbound when it was still the borderline of Detroit, Cadillac Square was or recently had been at that time the Farmers' Market, which moved to the current Eastern Market site. It would be an interesting study to compare the current bus routes to the old streetcar lines of various eras. It may explain some of the routing of the current system that seem a bit convoluted. Overlay that with the OCF research and we may find some interesting things about the development of Detroit transit and the growth of the City. For example, a new large factory or factory area might have been established. Would a route be diverted to service that factory or area or would a new route be established? When the factory or area were no longer a factor due to closures, the bus line still follows the same route due to inertia rather than need. - never could understand why it was called the Baker line, although the current Bagley Ave. (Street) was renamed from Baker in honour of that tobacconist. Add in the freeways and closure of streets for projects, comparing older maps to the current one, sometimes is mindboggling, Let's see, East Fort Street runs from Randoph to Beaubien and than again for a half block to Orleans?????? | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3816 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Just like our cultural legacies, our transportation legacies are also extant. Cities are developed around transportation options. In Detroit's case, they went for auto routes. Other cites, new and old, have chosen more public transit options. Chicago just put in a pink line, reclaiming old existing tracks. Portland, Oregon just ordered $85 million worth of new rail cars from Seimens for a fourth light rail line. They've also just extended their new streetcar line, running stock is Skodas from Czech Republic. Detroit extends its auto paths and not much more. jjaba. | ||
Tarkus Member Username: Tarkus Post Number: 26 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 68.43.117.118 |
No disrespect but isn't this supposed to be about the Belgians in the area? Not a discussion of bus routes. | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 3282 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.249.44.157 |
Welcome to the forum! One tangent leads to another. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1153 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.80 |
Looking at my 30s map, the Cadillac Blvd. DSR route ran down from Harper to Mack, then jogs over to Pennsylvania to Jefferson. It isn't clear where it went to from either end. | ||
Thecarl Member Username: Thecarl Post Number: 769 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.14.30.175 |
i guess the moral of this thread is that the belgians were displaced by confusing changes in road names, bizarre intersections, and complicated bus routes. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3819 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Tarkus, welcome to the Forum, you are exactly right. Sadly, it's a typical eastside thing to threadjack. They are easily confused over there. jjaba, Westsider. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2105 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.90.174 |
Tarkus, I think we've exhausted the Belgian angle... Walloon's.... pigeons.... Flem's..... pigeon coups..... steamed mussels.... pigeon pie... feather bowling... pigeon poop..... And Thecarl, you are correct. We make it confusing to keep away all those pesky westsiders... They are only used to the street grid plan and Mile Roads... the moment they get to the east side and encounter a road that isn't right angle to another road, they get "dazed and confused" and scurry back to the west side! (Message edited by Gistok on May 15, 2006) | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 3297 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.79.119.13 |
Wonderful post, Gistok. I owe you a Belgian Beer. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2107 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.90.174 |
Thanks Jams! We'll give Jjaba some Belgian Waffles, since that other Belgian carnival delicacy "pigeon on a stick" (their version of "city chicken") is probably not kosher..... | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3833 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
What the hell is "city chicken", pigeon, raccoon, beaver, muscrat, or Trumbull Ave. Pheasant with a creamsauce? Kosher schmosher, what am I, chopped liver? jjaba. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3834 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
jjaba would prefer Belgian Chocolates or Antwerp diamonds. Merci. jjaba. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2508 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
For Tarkus: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/11557/38773.html https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/23585/30447.html | ||
Tarkus Member Username: Tarkus Post Number: 28 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 68.43.117.118 |
Mikem... Thanks for the threads. I grew up on Devonshire and Frankfort. My grandparents grew up on Philip and Charlevoix where it was wall to wall Belgians until the early 70's. I remember growing up hearing nothing but Flemish at my grandparents and at the Cadieux Cafe. Remember "Being Belgian is Beautiful"(a bumper sticker the Cadieux Cafe used to sell.) | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1317 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Belgian paper tries to adapt to keep printing The Gazette van Detroit began publishing in 1914, when Flemish-speaking immigrants made Detroit home to more Belgians than any other city in the nation. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060517/NEW S05/605170396/1007 | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3838 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Thanks Kethleen. jjaba continues to learn about Detroit from you, et. al. This thread is one of the most interesting to jjaba, being a Westsider with no knowledge about Belgians. jjaba, Westside Yeshiva Bukkor. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1177 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.210 |
Jjaba, to get to Belgiantown, I'll give you directions from a major landmark, that any Westsider should even be able to follow: From the State Fair grounds, take State Fair east, keep going straight on E. Outer Dr. Keep going straight on Conner, until you get to E. Outer Dr just before Gratiot. Turn left on E. Outer Dr, then turn left when you get to E Outer Dr, when you get to Chandler Park Dr. keep going straight. Turn right onto Cadieux, and you are there. (I think I got that right, finally) (Message edited by Hornwrecker on May 17, 2006) | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2118 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.9.142 |
Well done Jjaba, and there are about 4 or 5 bends in the road to E. Outer Drive after you turn left from Conner. Funny thing Outer Drive.... it's one of the few things that both the east side and west side have in common! | ||
Vulke99 Member Username: Vulke99 Post Number: 1 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 207.72.2.206 |
we are flemish/belgian. my grandfather came here under an assumed name when he was 3 in 1914. his family came over the year before with another family's boy. they switched the kids because grandpa was sick and he wouldn't have been able to get through ellis island. they were carpenter's but turned to farming when they arrived in detroit. they farmed in utica (the part that is now sterling heights). talk about illegal immigration! grandpa didn't become a legal citizen until the early '80s. |
