  Leoqueen Member Username: Leoqueen Post Number: 1885 Registered: 07-2004 |
There is an Ego Street that runs into 8 Mile somewhere between Woodward and I-75. That one must have an interesting history | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 301 Registered: 03-2006 |
Who is Ryan Road named after? | ||
Scottr Member Username: Scottr Post Number: 854 Registered: 07-2006 |
Gistok, here's where you may have read that: http://info.detnews.com/redesi gn/history/story/historytempla te.cfm?id=205 Atwater and Woodbridge are similarly named - both for a prominent citizen and the nature of the street. | ||
D_mcc Member Username: D_mcc Post Number: 319 Registered: 12-2007 |
I used to live among the great Colleges in Dearborn... Vassar Bennett Colgate Tulane Lehigh Annapolis Carlysle Westpointe Not to mention the presidents Lincoln Roosevelt Madison | ||
Evelyn Member Username: Evelyn Post Number: 154 Registered: 02-2005 |
Don't forget Monroe. I grew up one block over from that street. | ||
D_mcc Member Username: D_mcc Post Number: 321 Registered: 12-2007 |
Monroe...and Notre Dame I guess Parker... So you lived on what...Katherine? | ||
Deteamster Member Username: Deteamster Post Number: 93 Registered: 07-2007 |
"Don't know how true this is, but I remember reading somewhere that Territorial Judge Augustus Woodward claimed that he named the main thoroughfare that way because it was heading into the woods... hence Woodward... how convenient!" That's true. | ||
Evelyn Member Username: Evelyn Post Number: 155 Registered: 02-2005 |
Almost, Roosevelt. Surprised no one's brought up Outer Drive yet, though the reason behind the name (at one time!) was obvious. http://www.metrotimes.com/edit orial/story.asp?id=6585 | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6403 Registered: 08-2004 |
In the original 1807 downtown plan the street names did undergo some changes. Bagley was originally named Macomb, and since the presidents names were used (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe), that process must not have happened exactly in 1807, since Jefferson was president until early 1809 (when Madison won, and Monroe 8 years later in 1817), so Madison and Monroe Streets may have been named something different early on. I once saw a map of Detroit from just before the 1805 fire, and there was a street going along the waterfront (circa where Atwater is today). It was appropriately called "River Road". | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 7789 Registered: 10-2003 |
One of the fun things I've learned. Monroe from Woodward to Gratiot was named for the President. Monroe from Gratiot to the east was renamed in honor of the first pastor of Second Baptist Church. | ||
Carolcb Member Username: Carolcb Post Number: 3981 Registered: 11-2006 |
Along the Hiscock story.... The corner of Florence and Ballard in Ypsi. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1980 Registered: 07-2004 |
Everybody forgets what was ON Big Beaver Road (Exit 69). It was the location of Dykeland Mall.  | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5457 Registered: 10-2003 |
Gistok, your tip about River Road led me to a treasure trove of information. http://www.waynecounty.com/dps _roads/history/written_history 2.htm Turns out it is steeped in history and interesting trivia. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5461 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: That used to be a nice place back in the day, as Mobile Home Parks go. Now it's a bit of a pit like the rest of them, and many of the lots are empty. | ||
Fishtoes2000 Member Username: Fishtoes2000 Post Number: 441 Registered: 06-2005 |
Does anyone know what happened to High Street? It's mentioned in the Google book, which also says it got renamed to Sherman. I don't see Sherman either. Supposedly this road crossed Woodward where there was a slight rise. My old USGS map shows an old shoreline ridge near where I-75 crossed Woodward. I don't see any High or Sherman streets on my pre-I-75 map from the 50s. Another interesting street name is "Lucky Place", which is off of Grand Blvd, just south of Poletown. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1982 Registered: 07-2004 |
High became Vernor Highway. That stretch is now I-75. | ||
Fishtoes2000 Member Username: Fishtoes2000 Post Number: 442 Registered: 06-2005 |
Ah, thanks Detroitnerd. So it did follow the Elkton shore line on my USGS map. Cool! | ||
Bob Member Username: Bob Post Number: 1700 Registered: 11-2003 |
If you want to know about state controlled roads and their history, here is a great website. I think this has been mentioned a few times here, but I will offer it again. http://www.michiganhighways.or g/ | ||
Jaja Member Username: Jaja Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2007 |
Seem to remember that Beaver Screw was on Big Beaver...no kidding... | ||
Umbound Member Username: Umbound Post Number: 52 Registered: 02-2008 |
What is the origin of Lahser? | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6412 Registered: 08-2004 |
Wow, thanks Johnlodge! I only saw River Road on some obscure map and had no clue as to its' history, nor the fact at how long it was! | ||
Vetalalumni Member Username: Vetalalumni Post Number: 964 Registered: 05-2007 |
History of Visger in SW Detroit? | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6417 Registered: 08-2004 |
One interesting thing about Detroit street names is that many far eastside street names originated in the Grosse Pointes (neighborhoods and streets were developed earlier closer to the river/lake than farther inland). So, many street names continue from Jefferson (in the Pointes) northward, cross Mack Ave. into Detroit, and continue with the same names. University, Neff, Audobon, 3 Mile Dr., Bedford and Beaconsfield are examples. However, some streets in the Pointes had a name change once they crossed Mack Ave. into Detroit... BECAUSE... these street names already existed elsewhere in Detroit. That's why Kirby Rd. changes to Gateshead St. once you cross Mack Ave. into Detroit (there was already a Kirby near the DIA). And Rivard Rd. changes to Marseilles St. into Detroit, since there's already a Rivard near the Chrysler Freeway. | ||
Slider Member Username: Slider Post Number: 31 Registered: 06-2007 |
"Along the Hiscock story.... The corner of Florence and Ballard in Ypsi." I'm probably just dense, but I'm confused at this one. Since I only live one block from this intersection I'm fascinated. | ||
Slider Member Username: Slider Post Number: 32 Registered: 06-2007 |
Ahh, just got it! Florence Ballard of the Supremes! I've lived there two years and never made the connection! | ||
Exmotowner Member Username: Exmotowner Post Number: 463 Registered: 06-2005 |
I used to live on Bethune and I always wondered about its origin. I thought it a wierd name. Did they really name it after a man that was named Bethune? JK of course. Although, it might entirely be. Anyone know? | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2827 Registered: 01-2005 |
Curious, Exmotowner. The 1880, 1900, and 1910 census lists no Bethune family in Detroit except for one George Bethune, who is simply a roomer in a rooming house in 1900. There does appear to be a large Bethune family living in Saginaw, but no connection is apparent to Bethune Street. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 1012 Registered: 01-2007 |
Any one know the origins of Detroit Street? | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 1491 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote: According to the Silas Farmer book (pg. 938), Bethune Street was named in 1881 after the maiden name of Mrs. George Duffield, D.D. | ||
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin Post Number: 5587 Registered: 10-2003 |
How about Prairie on the northwest side? It runs pretty long from 8 Mile to at least 94 (Message edited by Detroit_stylin on March 06, 2008) |
