Yaktown Member Username: Yaktown
Post Number: 1 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 69.222.69.220
| Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 10:01 pm: | |
Long time lurker, first time poster...After the Tigers game on Sunday, we drove by a Michigan Historical marker titled Paradise Valley. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to hop out and read it. I've looked on the michigan.gov website and found no info on this plaque. I assume it's a new one? Anyone have info when this one was placed? As an admitted "road geek", I love the state markers. Always a great opportunity to learn a little history too. |
Pffft Member Username: Pffft
Post Number: 1031 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.221.69.131
| Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 10:05 pm: | |
Well, where was it?? And welcome. |
Yaktown Member Username: Yaktown
Post Number: 2 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 69.222.69.220
| Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 11:03 pm: | |
We parked at the Ford Field lot on the north side of the stadium (so much for handicap parking!). Turned left out of there and went south on St. Antoine. I think the marker is near Beacon/St. Antoine. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 1381 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57
| Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 11:16 pm: | |
A couple of past Forum threads on this topic: 2004: Detroiters try to preserve history of Paradise Valley https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/18968/21812.html 2005: Detroit DDA approves $300,000 contract for Paradise Valley Park planning https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/36206/44006.html Hopefully these will shed some light on what and how the Paradise Valley marker and park site came to be. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 1382 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57
| Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 11:17 pm: | |
Oh, and welcome, Yaktown!!! |
Yaktown Member Username: Yaktown
Post Number: 3 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 69.222.69.220
| Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 1:17 am: | |
Thanks Kathleen, that's exactly what I was looking for. Interesting to have the state marker there but would also be cool to have a few interpretive displays with photos, timelines, etc. /See? I did learn something new today! |
Funkycarrie Member Username: Funkycarrie
Post Number: 291 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 69.209.138.56
| Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 11:31 am: | |
There are many good books on the subject, I'd recommend "Before Motown" by Lars Bjorn...LOTS of info in it about Paradise Valley and the jazz scene here in Detroit. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 1383 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57
| Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 11:00 pm: | |
Our very own Jimg co-authored "Before Motown" with Lars. Hopefully he will see this posting and provide additional insight here. In the meantime, you may find their Detroit Music History website of interest: http://www.detroitmusichistory .com/index.html And these other websites and pages: http://info.detnews.com/histor y/story/index.cfm?id=174&categ ory=life Detroit Paradise Valley website: http://www.paradisevalleyblues .com/tour/hastingsindex.html Arcadia book: http://www.arcadiapublishing.c om/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scre en=PROD&Store_Code=arcadia&Pro duct_Code=0738531553&Product_C ount=&Category_Code= |
Funkycarrie Member Username: Funkycarrie
Post Number: 303 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 68.249.241.80
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 1:23 am: | |
Kathleen...I hope so...I ADORE that book, I learned a great deal from it. Thanks for the links. |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 633 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.20.140.8
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 6:56 am: | |
On behalf of Lars and me thanks very much for your kind words ref. B Motown, Funkycarrie. Kathleen, as usual, hits all of the hot links to that fertile area. Suggest you also check out "Toast Of The Town" by Sunny Wilson and John Cohassey on WSU Press. Sunny was an important figure. If Jaim Desjardins ever publishes his research it will be the definitive account. Lars and I will give presentations each day on Det jazz history during Jazzfest at the "Jazz Talk Tent" and with the addition of local authors S.R. Boland and Susan Whitall, "Birth Of The Detroit Sound: 1947 - 64". Details to follow nearer the event... |
Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 4459 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.84.90
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 8:49 am: | |
Paradise Valley is LONG GONE!! Those white-folks in the city "CLOWNSIL" at the time torn down the black community for a I-75 Chrysler FWY. |
Funkycarrie Member Username: Funkycarrie
Post Number: 304 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 69.209.138.56
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 9:36 am: | |
I will definitely check that out when the time comes Jimg, again, fabulous job with the book. I learned a lot! I researched the Bluebird last semester, the book was so helpful. I'll be on the lookout for "Toast Of The Town" Thanks again! |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 1384 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 140.244.107.151
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 10:22 am: | |
Thanks, Jim. I wasn't sure if you and Lars would be doing presentations at the Jazz Festival again this. Glad to know that you are, so will make sure I stop by!! |
220hendrie1910 Member Username: 220hendrie1910
Post Number: 27 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 209.217.124.27
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 10:39 am: | |
Danny wrote:
quote:Paradise Valley is LONG GONE!! Those white-folks in the city "CLOWNSIL" at the time torn down the black community for a I-75 Chrysler FWY.
Correct in fact, but honestly, what would have come of that neighborhood if they hadn't? Plenty of flavor but also destitution and all that. Context: I'm the grandson of one white lady who grew up at Hendrie & St. Antoine and, in carelessly racist moments, said she could never forgive the "<n-word>s" for destroying her city. Urban-studying in Ottawa. |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 634 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 6:50 pm: | |
Ya know 220, before tossing off those glib comments you might want to read about the area and not just take granny's word... |
Sumotect Member Username: Sumotect
Post Number: 200 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 64.243.32.9
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 7:14 pm: | |
Jimg, I would also like to thank you for the book. I used it as reference in an Architectural design class I taught. The project was a music museum for Detroit. A friend of mine's dad used to always accuse us of hanging out at "Black and Tan's". I didn't know what it meant. Now I do. |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 635 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 7:18 pm: | |
Wow I'd love to make that project happen! Anything come of it? |
Sumotect Member Username: Sumotect
Post Number: 201 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 64.243.32.9
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 8:09 pm: | |
These were student projects. An exercise to help them learn to design a building. I stress context and history and the urban response. Many of my students came from small towns way out state, so I had my hands full. What I tried to show them from your book was that the music scene was social and spatial, it was about neighborhoods and "parts of town". Places with remnants that still exist. The maps in your book were phenomenal. Excellent scholarship! The site was on Woodward across from the Fox, in that big empty space between the two churches. One guy did an animation that had the people mover moving and jumbotrons with the white stripes video of "seven nation army" playing within the animation. I played them Yusef Latif and Dinah Washington, but Bob Seeger was about as far back as their minds could go. Another proposed elderly housing/ assisted living as part of the museum. Retired musicians would get free housing in exchange for just hanging around and talking to people or giving lessons. We had some fun, and they worked hard. If we do a project like this again maybe we can invite you to sit in on the final jury so you can let the students know what you think? But I do agree, a real project like a Detroit Music Museum is not just desirable. I would say it is required. |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 636 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 8:46 pm: | |
That's really interesting, really like the "housing for lessons" concept...I'm in a group called CHIP - "Creative Healing Initiative Partnership", our mission is to strengthen the bond between music and healing. One idea is to barter healthcare for performances. A 'living museum' that covers the spectrum of Det music from then 'till now. A fine idea for sure! Yes please let me know when you do another music project, sounds really interesting. JamesJazz at aol.com Thanks for your kind words ref. B Motown. An architect pal of Lars' drew the maps for us. No surprise you like them I guess! (Message edited by jimg on June 29, 2006) |
220hendrie1910 Member Username: 220hendrie1910
Post Number: 30 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 20.137.2.50
| Posted on Tuesday, July 04, 2006 - 1:50 pm: | |
Jimg wrote:
quote:Ya know 220, before tossing off those glib comments you might want to read about the area and not just take granny's word...
Sorry to sound glib, and I certainly don't share her sentiments. But her words remind me of the depth of hatred that existed among the emigres of that time. |