  Taj920 Member Username: Taj920 Post Number: 209 Registered: 01-2004 |
As a follow-up to the City Airport thread, any truth to this Wikipedia passage about DeLaSalle: When the school first opened in 1926, a riverboat pilot (captain) was the school's mascot due to the school being built across from a river called Conner (sic) Creek, but when Detroit City Airport opened in 1937, the school changed its mascot from the riverboat pilot to the present day airplane pilot. | ||
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446 Post Number: 57 Registered: 03-2007 |
Detroit City Airport opened in 1927. The school and the airport had their share of legal battles over the years because of the landing patterns. I heard some story a while back about the Pilot name being original to a riverboat captain but the source was questionable. For several years the school wanted to expand, but could only do so vertically. However, because of the airplanes they were unable to expand further to the extent needed. Add that to declining enrollment in the late 1970's and they were ready to leave in 1982. | ||
Wkl Member Username: Wkl Post Number: 109 Registered: 11-2003 |
De La Salle Pilots where indeed named after riverboat pilots. The area that is City Airport was planned as a park (with Conner Creek running through it) when construction began on the school. It was any easy transition to aircraft pilots. I can remember my freshman year, kind ducking when the planes came over. After a couple a months it was "what airplanes?". If you dig around the DLS website www.delasallehs.com, you'll come across a recent article on the "pilot" issue. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1712 Registered: 11-2003 |
Two attys at the PlunkettCooney law firm in Detroit led the legal battle to try to get the flight patterns changed as the planes came in and left over City airport so close to the school. I have met several alums of DLS who remember the deafening noise as planes took off and landed. Windows rattled. Everything halted. They were not successful in their efforts. | ||
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446 Post Number: 58 Registered: 03-2007 |
"Two attys at the PlunkettCooney law firm in Detroit led the legal battle to try to get the flight patterns changed as the planes came in and left over City airport so close to the school. I have met several alums of DLS who remember the deafening noise as planes took off and landed. Windows rattled. Everything halted. They were not successful in their efforts." Which legal battle and what year are you referring to ? Their were several over the years. In the mid 1960's DLS had a lawsuit going with the city. It wasn't the first time and it wasn't the last time. Keep in mind that situation with the planes was a way of life in that neighborhood and people adjusted. The safety issue was a primary reason for the lawsuits. However, the school wanted the possible option to expand upwards and the flight patterns prohibited it. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1715 Registered: 11-2003 |
I believe the legal battle to which I refer went back to the late 60's, early 70's. And yes, there were others. |
