  Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 1314 Registered: 03-2006 |
Just wondering the story on this area. Is it one of the better neighborhoods in town or one of the bad ones? | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 367 Registered: 04-2006 |
it's not one of the better ones, that's fo sho. p.s. let's chill this weekend. | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 1316 Registered: 03-2006 |
yeah man, my lady mentioned we haven't seen you in a while | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 5842 Registered: 02-2004 |
Wyoming and Fenkell (once mostly Jewish community) is mostly a black Detroit ghettohood filled with DEAD (C)KRAK HEADS, po-folks, vacant and abandon homes and business and folks don't care about their community | ||
Eric_w Member Username: Eric_w Post Number: 136 Registered: 02-2007 |
Sad too I used to live there & it was nice ( Back in the Day) in the 60's. Then again most of the west side was a good place to live until the riots. | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 247 Registered: 11-2005 |
From S.Fenkell to Mcnichols is very dicey Marygrove and north(bagley community) is pretty decent... | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 5844 Registered: 02-2004 |
HAH! Even Livernois and Fenkell, once a art deco shopping district now a blighted black ghetto. | ||
Eric_w Member Username: Eric_w Post Number: 138 Registered: 02-2007 |
Knew that area too. | ||
Hybridy Member Username: Hybridy Post Number: 91 Registered: 08-2006 |
a classmate and former fraternity brother of mine was shot at fenkell and wyoming. they fled an attempted car jacking and he turned around to make sure the passengers in the back got down. he took 3 shots to the right side of face. lost his right eye. had he not turned around he would've taken the shots to the back of the head, killing him. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5262 Registered: 11-2003 |
Danny, Wyoming and Fenkell was never a Jewish neighborhood. Jews moved enmasse from Dexter-Davison-Livernois and South, all the way up to W. Mc Nichols-Livernois-Wyoming-W. Seven Mile Rd., etc. They skipped over Fenkell in a big way. jjaba's Schoolcraft and Wyoming area was really never Jewish. Our family were the onliest Jews on the block and there very few Jewish kids ever at Noble School. The Fenkell area may have had a few more, but not many Jewish people. There were some Jewish Cooley HS grads, but very few. At one time, before the John Lodge Expy. went in, Fenkell-Wyoming was a nice regional shopping area. Sanders, Cunninghams, Westown Theater, Tower Lanes bowling, and other 1920s car-stop shopping lined these streets. Some of the merchants were Jews, but very few residents. jjaba, Westside Bar Mitzvah Bukkor. | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 826 Registered: 10-2006 |
Didn't the Honey Baked Ham Co. get its start somewhere around those parts? | ||
Jman Member Username: Jman Post Number: 41 Registered: 10-2006 |
Honey Baked Ham was one block east of Livernois on the south side of Fenkell. Across Fenkell half a block west of H.B.H was a great Jewish Deli. Wish I could Remember the name. (Message edited by Jman on April 23, 2007) | ||
Eric_w Member Username: Eric_w Post Number: 139 Registered: 02-2007 |
Don't forget Kinsel's Drugs across from Cunningham's,Kresge's dime store and the Kowalski Meats-getting some Pizza loaf was a BIG treat!! At Washburn & Fenkell was Danny's Foods. | ||
Spaceman_spiff Member Username: Spaceman_spiff Post Number: 57 Registered: 02-2006 |
Hybridy = Michigan Delta Sigep? didn't know there was another brother on here...I pledged Fall '01. | ||
Mayor_sekou Member Username: Mayor_sekou Post Number: 721 Registered: 09-2006 |
It is safe to assume that all neighborhoods bordering Fenkell with a few exceptions are pretty chitty. | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 828 Registered: 10-2006 |
I think that from where Fenkell starts at Rosa Parks on its east end to about the area of where it crosses Grand River is pretty bad. | ||
Softailrider Member Username: Softailrider Post Number: 30 Registered: 02-2007 |
Jman..... I believe that's the MODERN delicatessen you're thinking about . It was owned by one of the Gunsbergs and had really good food . They sold it about20 years ago and it went way downhill. I used to go there regularly until about 1985 or so . | ||
Jman Member Username: Jman Post Number: 42 Registered: 10-2006 |
Modern! That's it. Thanks Softailrider. I must admit I hadn't been there since the 60's. I found it after the delis on Linwood and Dexter had moved. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5266 Registered: 11-2003 |
Tower Lanes had manual pinsetters. Don't piss them off or you'll hear about it, bigtime. Sander's Store was quite near to the corner of Wyoming and Fenkell about where the gas station is today. (NW corner area.) jjaba. | ||
Waxx Member Username: Waxx Post Number: 133 Registered: 09-2006 |
I worked @ Clinton E.S. in '98 around that area, the neighborhood was blight, but not as bad as other areas. There are some areas on the eastside that would make that area look like a walk in the park-LITERALLY! But anyway, the last time I was in the neighborhood [which is in the Central H.S. Constellation (if U work 4 DPS u know what I'm talkin' about)], new homes were being built and with Clinton being slated to close within the next year, I'm curious as to how it would affect that part of the westside. But ALL the same as many of you have mentioned, despite the new housing going on there, it's STILL blighted. BTW, Is club Mozambique still open? I was too young to go there when it was in its prime-coming up in the 80s-but I remember WJLB rappin' about it back in the day and it was one of Detroit's hot spots. | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 377 Registered: 09-2004 |
Isn't there a little burger joint on the corner of Fenkell and Wyoming? Maybe I'm thinking of a different corner on Wyoming, but I know it's up that way somewhere. | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 1319 Registered: 03-2006 |
white castle and an asian burger place | ||
Kevdog Member Username: Kevdog Post Number: 155 Registered: 10-2003 |
The grocery store nearby is very good. Used to be called King Cole's. I forget what it's called now. I still call it King Cole's. | ||
Ptero Member Username: Ptero Post Number: 112 Registered: 12-2005 |
Just north of the intersection at the ramp to the Lodge was the last stop for the Imperial Express before it got on the freeway bound for downtown. If Milt saw you coming up from Fenkell (transferring from the Fenkell bus) he'd wait, esp in bad weather. Next stop? Cass Tech after smelling Wonder Bread as we got off the J Lodge. proud Cassite - '71 | ||
Hybridy Member Username: Hybridy Post Number: 92 Registered: 08-2006 |
spaceman sorry to disappoint you, but i was only active 2 year before i turned my letters in. the last good year of our chapter was 03-04, my pledge class crossed 15 guys. we had 50+ actives at least. sadly, the older brothers put their faith in the "popular" face men of the chapter to run the show. you can guess how many of those guys stuck around. of that 15 who crossed, there are 3 left that are active. i crossed with 7 architecture majors. my roommate and myself who dropped will be the only ones to graduate from the udm soa out of that class. if you weren't already aware the house has been vacant for some time and the remnants turned the legacy house on farfield into the chapter house. its really sad to see something crash so hard so fast but, i give nationals a year to pull the charter. (Message edited by hybridy on April 24, 2007) | ||
Spaceman_spiff Member Username: Spaceman_spiff Post Number: 58 Registered: 02-2006 |
Hybridy, Congrats on your upcoming graduation. Let me know if I can put you in contact with some alumni practicing in the area. I am somewhat aware of the events around UDM, last time I swung through the house looked like it was inhabited by a species of hybrid bum-pigs. Yohe would have pitched a fit. Take care. -spiff | ||
Michmeister Member Username: Michmeister Post Number: 165 Registered: 10-2006 |
25 years ago, Fenkell/Greenfield area was still nice but on the way down. The smell from wonderbread was indeed okay, as was the smell of the American Coffee when they were roasting their coffee, but god help us all when the wind brought the stench from the Stroh`s Brewery, iirc, yuck! | ||
Eric_w Member Username: Eric_w Post Number: 142 Registered: 02-2007 |
worked @ Clinton E.S. in '98 around that area, WAXX- I went to Clinton until 1967 the 6th grade-very bad place then. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5270 Registered: 11-2003 |
Ptero, what's the origin of the name of "Imperial Express?" jjaba remembers when buses stopped on both John C. Lodge and Davison Expys. Originally, the Lodge was built out to Wyoming. North of there, James Couzens Parkway took you out to W. 8 Mile Rd. where Northwestern Highway took over. East of Wyoming, the road was built right through the neighborhood, taking down thousands of homes and displacing so many families, renters and owners alike, so suburbanites could get downtown quicker. It was really a turning point for this neighborhood in NW Detroit. The Greenlawn Exit was closed off after planners discovered so many schools on both sides of the expressway, and the traffic would be too dangerous to little kids. Fitzgerald Elementary and Post Intermediate were two of the schools. jjaba, Westsider. | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 380 Registered: 09-2004 |
In regards the the burger joint I was thinking of, I guess it was Wyoming and Joy perhaps? And there's another one in that area, too, on Oakman. Maybe that one is near Fenkell... | ||
Durango Member Username: Durango Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2006 |
Busterwmu, I used to ride the Chicago bus when I was and St. John's Lutheran School on Oakman. The hamburger stand was called Elmers. It is still in business on the corner of Chicago and Oakman. | ||
Ptero Member Username: Ptero Post Number: 113 Registered: 12-2005 |
Hey Jjaba, I don't know the origin of the route. When I was riding we got on near Cass and Second - across from Cass Park (it started somewhere downtown - It was typically half adult workers and half Cassites). That was the last stop - it got right onto the Lodge. Then it stayed on the freeway until Wyoming. Then it followed the service drive to Seven Mile, and out Seven Mile to Lahser. I believe Lahser was the end of the run, and the start for the run going downtown. It was also a split shift for a bunch of drivers. It was scheduled heavy for morning in and afternoon out rush, often with the same drivers doing both with midday off. heh, more than ya wanna know. For my Dad, Grand River was the route to get downtown before the freeway was built. Then after it was built, Grand River remained a great run because so many flocked to the big new freeway. Even in the '70s I still took GR as often as the freeway to get from 7/Evergreen to WSU for school. The CULMA site at WSU Libraries is fun to look at - the DTE archive has aerial pictures going back to 1949. You can see James Couzens and how housing to Eight Mile had still not filled in. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5275 Registered: 11-2003 |
Ptero, jjaba remembers when the Imperial Express did make a stop or two down in the John C. Lodge Expy., perhaps at The Blvd. Do you remember that? Most likely, the busline enterered and exited John C. Lodge at Temple St. downtown. Good report, thanks. jjaba, Cass Tech., 1959, WSU Grad. school, 1965. jjaba rode the Northlawn to the Grand River electric feeder buses to Cass Tech. and The Dexter to WSU. | ||
Ptero Member Username: Ptero Post Number: 114 Registered: 12-2005 |
Well yah, you ARE old! In my time it was non-stop from Temple to Wyoming. This was also after the electric feeders were put to bed! whoops, the bus stop was Temple and Second, not Cass - in front of the building just west of the intersection. Then yep, it got on the JCLodge right there at Temple. You're right, it exited there as well (isn't that signed as the Grand River exit?). It zigged on Temple and behind Kresge's HQ to come alongside Cass on Henry. Later the city flipped Henry to one way in the other direction. btw, for the kids, Kresge's HQ was in the building on the west side of Cass Park. We also did Drivers ed as a regular class period. At the time Plum Street was booming and there was an entire neighborhood behind it with no houses left (pretty sure the new casino is on that footprint). The streets were all still there including stop signs. Just like a driving course in a huge parking lot. We'd start there and after awhile he would have us drive around downtown. ptero, Cass Tech 1971 music, WSU thru grad school, 1979. (Message edited by ptero on April 25, 2007) | ||
Kimistree Member Username: Kimistree Post Number: 45 Registered: 01-2004 |
Busterwmu, There was a Greene's Hamburger at Wyoming and McNichols (6 mile). It's gone, now there is a CVS in its place. (Message edited by Kimistree on April 25, 2007) | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5276 Registered: 11-2003 |
Thanks Ptero. jjaba learned to drive at Mackenzie HS in smmertime on their lot. He doesn't even recall driver's ed being taught through Cass Tech. Back then, you were supposed to take it in summer in your neighborhood. Having said that, some CT students lived near CT and that WAS their neighborhood,like Chinese or some of the "hillbillies" in Cass Corridor. Wonder how many Technicians can walk to school today? Man oh man, Cass Tech. was always such a United Nations of a place. Some of the Euro-immigrants like the Hungarians really had some accents. jjaba. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5277 Registered: 11-2003 |
To fight the Regional Malls built in suburbs, in the 1950s, the City of Detroit tried to put parking lots behind the stores at major corners to attract customers. One excellent example is Livernois and Fenkell. The bought up houses to the East of Livernois behind the fine rows of stores, paved it and put in meters. Stores then opened up their back doors and put up nice signs. Most likely, it was eminent domain for commercial purposes. Ofcourse, eminent domain was used downtown for the Civic Center and the expressways like John C. Lodge which slashes right through Fenkell and Livernois today. These parking lot failed to save anybody. Another better and more successful example is Yemans Ave. behind Joseph Campau Street in Hamtramck. They tried the same thing in Highland Park. jjaba. | ||
Bc_n_dtown Member Username: Bc_n_dtown Post Number: 11 Registered: 09-2006 |
Hey Jjaba, The DSR Imperial Express line got its name from being the so-called "imperial" of the DSR's express bus service. It was originally called the Imperial Northwest Express when it began operating back in 1958, and was suppose to be the DSR's answer to "rapid transit." Back then, the DSR was pushing for express bus service along the city's new expressways, as opposed to building subways or rail lines along the expressway center medium. Although a few express bus routes were already operating along the expressways at the time, the Imperial Express was by far the DSR's longest expressway route. My uncle (who was a recent hired DSR driver at the time) even told me that the DSR was trying to promote the route as Detroit's answer to no subways.(lol) Unfortunately, the expressway bus route idea didn't progress as intended, as a number of the buses were delayed in traffic tie-ups. The DSR went all out to promote the Imperial Express and much ado was made during its first few days of service. For those interested in reading more regarding the history of expressway bus service in Detroit see: http://detroittransithistory.i nfo/Misc/ExpwyBusHistory.html (the Imp Exp info begins around the sixth paragraph) For more on the Imperial Express bus line see: http://detroittransithistory.i nfo/Routes/ImperialExpress.htm l | ||
Ptero Member Username: Ptero Post Number: 115 Registered: 12-2005 |
Hey Bc_n_dtown, What great information. Thanks for the pointer. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5282 Registered: 11-2003 |
bendtown, excellent reference paper. Thanks. Funny that about the same time, some cities were building expressways with rail service along side or in medians. So Federal highway policies allowed for it. Chicago has the Red Line on the Dan Ryan and the ORD airport service on the JFK. Much of the time, the trains run faster than the cars. In 1987, Portland, Oregon opened its MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) service on the Banfield Freeway and I-205, with service to the PDX airport. The agency is Tri-Met, 3 counties. jjaba. |
