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Deegee
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Username: Deegee

Post Number: 30
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 11:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I recently came across some pictures on the internet that showed the front of a church being moved when Woodward was widened. It looked like a complicated process. Does anyone know how it was done, how long the move would take and how many churches were affected?
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Kathleen
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Username: Kathleen

Post Number: 1702
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 6:50 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Not sure that all those details can be found without some serious research at the Burton Historical Collection.

This piece from the Detroit News Archives provides a starting point(http://info.detnews.com/histor y/story/index.cfm?id=205&categ ory=locations):

"Legal disputes over the widening of Woodward, including an 1874 condemnation proceeding in which the Detroit News offered a certificate of publication (of the original condemnation proceedings) as evidence, were finally resolved in 1932 and all that remained was securing agreement a majority of property owners along the way. John W. Chandler took it upon himself to get the signatures and refused to shave until he achieved success.

Historian George W. Stark writes that a friend told Chandler, "You're just like one of those old-fashioned Democrats from Alabama who decides he'll never shave again until a Democrat is elected president. I suppose you're not going to shave until you get Woodward widened." A good idea, Chandler agreed.

He went around with his growing whiskers getting signatures of Woodward Avenue property owners to a document agreeing to the widenings. When that was done and the widening of Woodward from 66 to 120 feet was assured, Chandler had his by now luxuriant whiskers removed.

The plans required the razing of St. John's Episcopal Church. However, parishioners resisted and instead had the church moved back 60 feet.

Later, parades and celebrations marked the widening."
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Chow
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Username: Chow

Post Number: 323
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 9:27 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

from faded detroit:

presyb
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Izzadore
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Username: Izzadore

Post Number: 8
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 9:57 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The last picture on the link Kathleen posted is great. It would be nice to see an electric train running through Woodward again.
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Pam
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Username: Pam

Post Number: 679
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 11:12 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

This church was also moved:

http://detroit1701.org/Central Methodist.htm
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Detroitnerd
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Username: Detroitnerd

Post Number: 750
Registered: 07-2004
Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 12:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There is a bend in Woodward south of Warren where you can see that they added lanes on alternate sides to preserve some buildings and demolish others. Detroit paid a heavy architectural price for that widening, and I believe many of the demolished buildings were carted to Belle Isle to serve as the foundation for the Detroit Yacht Club.
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Fury13
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Username: Fury13

Post Number: 1227
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 12:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"...many of the demolished buildings were carted to Belle Isle to serve as the foundation for the Detroit Yacht Club."

Don't think that's right... the DYC must predate 1935-36, which is when Woodward was widened.
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Detroitnerd
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Username: Detroitnerd

Post Number: 752
Registered: 07-2004
Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 1:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks, Fury. Must have been the widening of other thoroughfares, then. I'll bet Gar Wood had something to do with it, being a DYC founder and inventor of the dump truck.
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Toolbox
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Username: Toolbox

Post Number: 1012
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 1:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

When the Boat Club was first built it was on pielings in the river. It is now surrounded by land created from fill.
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Detroitnerd
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Username: Detroitnerd

Post Number: 753
Registered: 07-2004
Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 1:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Was that the Boat Club or the Yacht Club? Not to get too far off the point, but the story stays with me because it's so intriguing an image. Detroit's history reduced to rubble and used as foundation material for a pleasure palace.
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 4491
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 2:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Time for some serious Detroit Archeology. Get out your shovels boys, a dig in.

jjaba, looking for arrow heads.
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Deegee
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Username: Deegee

Post Number: 31
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2006 - 12:30 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks guys. One day I'll have to take some time to check out the Burton Historical Collection.
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Hornwrecker
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Username: Hornwrecker

Post Number: 1702
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2006 - 10:52 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Go to the Virtual Motor City at WSU, and do a search for "widening". There are 59 photos of various streets, mostly of Woodward.

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